waybeyond_lr52cr

A wise pastor told me a story some years ago. A million dollar diamond ring was placed in a paper bag and was left unattended. Children came by and crumpled up the bag and kicked it around like a ball. When discarded the bag lay on the side of the street. Many people passed and thought it was trash. A man stooped down and picked up the bag then placed it in the trash can. When the trash was emptied by the garbage man, the bag fell out onto the ground. As the worker picked it up he felt that there was something inside. He opened the bag and found the treasure inside. It saved his family from being evicted from their home and gave he and his children a chance at a new life.

What you may not realize is I never told you the color of the bag. Was it important? Did it affect the value contained inside? Did it matter in any way? No. The bag was irrelevant to it’s contents. The same is so for the value of untapped potential God has placed in each of us. Many of us judge ourselves and others by the color of the container that our spirit dwells with-in. Stop judging people by the bag and look for the treasure inside. God placed it there and they may not know it yet. Treat everyone according to the inside value and not the outside package. Jesus came to save all flesh regardless of the bag. 

Intolerable.!. The actions of individuals around me are unbearable. I stand near them in line at the grocery store. I encounter them when I fill my gas tank and in every public place, I feel it, the hopelessness of life. Our society has plunged headlong into a depression. Not in the economic sense, although we are close, but in the attitude of which we conduct our lives. Why?
Has the church failed us?
Has the government failed us?
Or have we failed ourselves?
Society as a whole has divided itself into so many factions that no one belongs any more. If you try to be proud of anything you’re met with opposition and offence. Overly sensitive people who demand you respect their view but will not listen to an opposing view use guilt, racism, intimidation, and violence to force one-sided tolerance.  The herd is headed for the cliff driven by the calls of division.

I attended a new church service tonight. This was a congregation I had spoken for their Alcohol and Drug ministry a few times in the past. Surprised is an understatement. The atmosphere of worship was thick with the presence of the Lord. It was spiritually intoxicating as we sang praises to our King. Then came the sermons. Yes, that’s plural. Six in all. Each allotted just seven minutes each on the topic of “What is Jesus?” All found in the “I Am ” scriptures in the book of John. Like a  well-honed team of relay runners, they handed the mic off in a fashion that built on the singular purpose, to bring glory to the Lord.  Void of individual egos, I watched these men of God pour as much love for their Lord as was possible within the short confines of seven minutes. By the end, I was spiritually exhausted. Eyes full of tears and a heart full of the presence of my Lord Jesus. Magnificent 7 to say the least. Yes, thats seven, because Jesus was present in every word. Thank you to The Crossing Church in Kodiak Tn. I have been truly blessed. – EC

Medical detoxification of the body from addictive chemicals can be accomplished in a hospital setting. Through monitoring of vital functions and keeping those areas stable, the body expels the poison and reestablished a new normal chemical balance in which it operates. The mind is detoxed in a similar fashion. instead of removing the chemical the mind removes the negative thought patterns. We must come to a place that provides safety to heal the mental habits of bad decision making. Whether it’s a rehab facility or the security of a daily meeting, a sanctuary must be found. The quest to move from self-centered to God-centered is the task that detoxifies the mind. The repeated accomplishment of this task is the spiritual experiance. This takes time. Building muscle in the brain is establishing new patterns of thinking. This can not be accomplished without the opportunity to change in daily situations. You’re never gonna get proficient at right thinking unless your practice right thinking. 
Formula that’s worked for me is as follows;
1. What’s the truth?
I can’t decide on anything unless I know exactly what I’m dealing with. This aids in allowing myself not to take things personally. (“I’m being treated unfairly because I’m worthless. ” -False
Truth- This is simply a mean person or a stressed person. It’s not my stuff.)
2. Accept I’m powerless over this situation.
I can’t make anyone think the way I want them to nor can I change them to fit what doesn’t hurt me. I can only adjust my perception by seeing step 1 clearly.
3. Choose an action based on 1&2. 
Simple. Act instead of reacting. Base all action on the truth found in one and the clarity found in 2.

Old behavior tells me to react in whichever character defect will defend me. Win at all costs or deny and lie until they give up. Be right and win. 
Life’s about discovering what’s right. Who is right is irrelevant.
This is the path I choose to Change my mind, and I chose it because it’s founded on honesty and acceptance before action.  EC