The Disease of Feelings: Is there a cure?

How do you feel? What are you feeling? I don't feel like doing that. Why do we speak in ways that reflect how we feel? I once heard someone ask, "If you had a friend who constantly lied to you. If they caused you to do things that you knew were wrong and flat out confused you at times; you wouldn't want to hang out with that person would you? You certainly would have a hard time trusting them or wouldn't trust them at all. Right? Well, that's exactly what our feelings do to us!" You know what? She was right!!! Far too often, I find myself and the people I am around talking about things and conveying them as if our feelings truly mattered. That thought has become somewhat discouraging to me because I have learned that my feelings, in the grand scheme of things, don't truly matter. How can you say that, some people may ask? Well it's simple; our feelings are like the weather. Just because it's raining and you may prefer to run when it's nice does not mean you still can't go running. You may get a little wet and perhaps it's more uncomfortable than you truly like. If you dress properly for the activity, there is no reason why you still can't have a productive run without the worry of catching a cold or being injured. Ok, but you don't understand, I really can't go running when it's raining out. Alright, if that's the case, then you realize it may not be raining tomorrow and you make new plans accordingly. The point is we don't have to be hindered or injured by our feelings any more than we have to "suffer" or endure the consequences associated with running in the rain. The first step though is to acknowledge it's "raining"! I must confess that I have allowed my "feelings" to dictate my behavior for many years. As a result, some of my actions have been less than positive. Ok, they have been flat out despicable. I don't want to be misunderstood, feelings aren't' bad. I have come to understand that our feelings should be viewed as tools. Why? There is such a thing as intuition. How we use the "feeling" of intuition can be the "key" that determines what "doors" we open. Another word to describe intuition is discernment. While I understand that my feelings often cannot be trusted, I must still use discernment. That is where God comes in! By staying in tune with Him and remaining grounded in His word, we are better able to decipher which things are coming to us from God and His Spirit and which things are not. God is not the author of confusion but of peace (1 Cor. 14:33), therefore if our feelings are causing confusion, we should take notice and use extreme caution. Is there a cure? Yes there is, it's the Word of God!

Joseph: Hero of Faith

I have often wondered why Joseph, Jesus' step father was not included in the "heroes of faith" list that we have in Hebrews. I am not questioning the author's view nor am I questioning the sovereignty of God however the amount of trust that Joseph had in the woman he was betrothed and his faith in God had to be incredible. I have no idea how that conversation went between Joseph and Mary when she told him she was pregnant but I can only imagine.

Mary: Joseph we need to talk.

Joseph: Yeah Mary, what's up?

Mary: Well…

Joseph: What is it? Can this wait? I got some projects I'm trying to finish up here.

Mary: No, no it can't. I need you to just listen and hear me out; this isn't easy so please just listen ok.

Joseph: Ok, now you're making me nervous. What's going on?

Mary: Well, you see….

Joseph: Yes….

Mary: I'm pregnant

Joseph: You're what?

Mary: I'm pregnant... Joe say something.

Joseph: What am I supposed to say? We're supposed to be getting married and you claim you love me! Do you know the shame and embarrassment you've brought to me; not to mention disgracing your family? We can't get married now. I love you but how could you do this to me? I can't believe I was so stupid…So who's the father?

Mary: Well, see that's the thing….it's God.

Obviously we don't' know if it happened that way but we do know whatever the conversation may have been, in the end, Joseph trusted that this young girl was telling him the truth. I think it's absolutely amazing how this man was able to put his own fears and feelings aside and do what was required, no matter how challenging it may have been. It's challenging for me to imagine that he knew beyond all doubt that what he was doing was right. How many of us "know" that God wants us to do something yet Satan still tries to instill doubt? Even though Joseph had the visit from the angel in his dream; how much more do you think Satan attempted to make Joseph doubt the truth because of who Jesus is? It is also quite possible that he never saw Jesus' start His ministry and therefore died without witnessing proof that Mary's story was in fact the truth. What a man of faith!! How do you accept what is impossible as possible? I can't fathom the faith Joseph must have had, not only to believe Mary's story but being willing to live it out. As a carpenter, he obviously taught Jesus the "family business", this certainly suggests that he was active in Jesus' life early on. How could he not look at Jesus and wonder from time to time "am being made a fool of?" "Knowing that I am a 'good guy" has she been taking advantage of me all these years?" We don't know the emotional stress and possible pain Joseph may have dealt with. The fact that "the people" questioned Jesus' credentials as a Teacher also seems to imply that people had some knowledge of His background. Assuming that's true than there most likely was some embarrassment Joseph had to deal with from time to time. The bible is silent on Joseph's issues but that doesn't mean he didn't have any. How many times did he have to endure the "stares"? How many times did he walk in on people murmuring "you know he really believes that God nonsense she told him"? How many times did he hear "you're a better man than me"? I believe he had doubts at some point. After all, he was human. Whatever his issues may or may not have been, he clearly loved Mary and "her son" and as a step parent myself, he is one of my heroes. I personally think it takes more faith to believe your fiancé is pregnant by the hand of God than it does to believe almost anything else. I have been asked to believe several stories, when examined at face value, are very challenging to believe are true. I've had to learn that "when it looks and acts like a duck" sometimes it's just an impersonation of a duck. That is when my faith and trust in God must truly be rock solid and I attempt to remember, "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man". (Psalms 118:8, KJV) I feel fairly confident that because Joseph was a "good Jewish man", he was quite familiar with that Psalm! When I am face to face with an issue that causes me to doubt God, I am often reminded that if Joseph can accept God's words as true and walk in that truth; why shouldn't I?

Who does He say that I am?

I believe the most important question asked in the bible is the question Jesus asked of His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" (Mt. 15:16) As a believer, it all really hinges on that one question. If you don't answer that question correctly and then accept Him for who He is, you have missed the boat. Having answered that question myself and although I have faith that my answer is correct, I still find myself doubting who I am in Him. That is why I sometimes ask, "Who does He say that I am?" I have had issues with identifying who and what I am supposed to be. Looking back on my life I don't know that people would really see that as being true. I have always had "friends" and to a certain degree been considered popular. At the very least I was never unknown or really hidden in the crowd. My identity however was always caught up in things that were temporary. Band, football, a girlfriend, muscles, certain cars, money, etc. It has taken me over 20 years to start to live in a way that begins to reflect the lesson I have always known in my heart; those things don't truly matter. I certainly don't believe any of those things are bad or evil, however when the absoluteness of Christ is not your foundation you are setting yourself up for huge let down.

Who does He say that I am? I am His child, His friend, His temple; I am to behave as a functioning part of His body. Is that all I am to Him? No, but it's as excellent a place to start as any. Breaking it down into more specifics would take quite a while. The great news for us is as we increase in our knowledge of Him and who we are in Him; we start to live a life of walking and discovering who we truly are. That has been a very scary and yet fulfilling process for me. I know I have merely scratched the surface which causes me to want to delve even deeper to further discover who I am and what I have buried that He wants to resurrect. One of my favorite verses in recent months has been Philippians 3:13-14, Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

Equality of the sexes

Who came up with the idea that men and women are equal? I don't believe in the equality of the sexes. Before you go and get upset, hear me out. If God had intended for men and women to be equal He would have created men and men or women and women; obviously he did not do that. I believe one of the issues we have in this beautiful country we call America is that we view "unequal" as synonymous with inferior. I don't think that many would argue that the heart, lungs and brain are not equal. They have totally different functions and were designed for different purposes. All three are absolutely equal in their importance. I don't know of anyone who has ever said they would be fine trying to live without one of them fully functioning.

Men and women were designed to complement each other not compete. How much sense would it make for an offensive lineman to compete for his quarterback's job and vice versa? The lineman doesn't have a job without the quarterback and the quarterback has multiple concussions without his linemen. They are obviously both different parts of a functioning team. We get too caught up in worrying about what "role" we are supposed to play instead of playing the role that best suits our strengths. As great as Michael Jordan was, it would have been a sad sight to have seen him post up Shaquille O'Neal every single time down the court; that would not be an effective use of playing to Jordan's strengths. Our strength differences are by design. If your wife is great with money, let her handle it. If your husband is a great cook, let him handle that. We often attempt to force and fool ourselves into performing roles we believe we are suited for but aren't. If you are only 5 feet 8 inches tall, you are not going to be a center in the NBA. That is however the height of Barry Sanders, one of the greatest, if not the greatest NFL running back of all time. Be proud of the fact that you are different. Celebrate what makes you unique.

God calls us to be different; we are supposed to be set apart. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. As believers we are called a peculiar people. God rejoices when we live in that uniqueness.

Just pure naked!!!

That's what I hope to accomplish through this blog.  An avenue that allows anyone associated with the blog to feel comfortable with being just pure naked.  What does that mean?  It means truly being you, it means allowing others to truly be themselves.  Being 100% relatable!  There is a part of the Serenity Prayer that I love that says "accepting this sinful world as Jesus did, not as I would have it".  Viewing the world this way and with God’s grace we will hopefully find the idea of being just pure naked rather easy!