Have you ever had a conversation with someone who was truly passionate about something their life? It's amazing to see the way their face may light up as they talk about that topic. They show not only knowledge on the subject, but it almost seems to burn inside them, looking for a release, especially when someone shows an interest in that subject.
Passion is related to our emotional being. And here, I don't mean passion in the way that it gets misused in general. Today, way too much is made of passion being related to sensuality or sexuality. By that term passion, I mean something that burns and bubbles up inside of you, something that touches you and affects you powerfully in life, something that you feel very strongly about.
When we look through the Bible, one picture is painted clearly for us. God is a passionate God. He deeply loves His creation. Like the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son, God willingly forgoes dignity because of how much He loves His children, especially the ones who are His through faith. God's passion is such that He would send His one and only Son to forgive and redeem the world from sin and condemnation.
We see that same passion in Jesus throughout His life. He felt anger at injustice. He was deeply moved by people who were hurting, or who recognized their need for Him. Jesus is so passionate about us that He willingly took our sin upon Himself on the cross so that we can be His and be with Him forever. Passion drove God to take action, and that action involved Jesus giving up His life on the cross and taking it back up again.
Passion cannot be separated from emotion. And yet, there is a vital difference here. Passion drives us to do what we do. Love for a spouse drives us to please that spouse, to sacrifice for him or her. Passion for hurting people drives some to give, and others to participate in relief efforts. Passion drives us to accomplish more than what we may think possible in life.
Passion is a driving force in life. Passion is tied to our emotional state. And yet, we cannot allow our emotions to overcome our passion. Jesus felt sorrow at the death of a friend (Lazarus), even going so far as to weep (John 11:35). And yet, He did not allow His sorrow to distract Him from the passion of His existence, that of rescuing the world from the clutches of sin and the devil.
We could think of passion as focused emotion. And to focus emotion means a couple of things. First, it means that emotion is not in control, but is under control. It also means that we utilize our emotion for that which drives us, and not as a distraction. In other words, passion involves emotional discipline.
What are you passionate about in life? How do you discipline your emotional being in order to be fully passionate about it?
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Emotions and God's Word
Okay, quick, what is the shortest verse in the Bible in English? It consists of two words. Give up? It's John 11:35.
What's so amazing about that? It's descriptive of an event that we don't see very often. A man cries. I think back to movies I've seen, such as "A League of Their Own", with Tom Hanks acting as the manager of a women's baseball team during WWII. The one line that stands out from that movie is, "There's no crying in baseball."
What does God's Word have to say about the role emotions play in our life and in our faith? The reality is, it doesn't really address this particular question. It talks a lot about people and their feelings and reactions, but if you are looking for some kind of systematic way of understanding emotions, the Bible doesn't really give that to us.
One thing that the Bible does make clear, though, is that there is a place for emotions, and for a rather wide range of them. Jesus wept. Jesus was moved deeply. Jesus was angry. And we see these same things in God, which shouldn't be a surprise, since Jesus and God are one and the same essence. God is saddened by His people. God is deeply moved, enough so to send His Son as our rescuer from His wrath at sin and the condemnation that our sinful life deserves. God has anger, especially at sin, but also at such things as injustice and lack of compassion.
However, God also does not simply react when these emotional states strike. They never overcome His faithfulness toward us, nor does He act rashly toward us because of a powerful emotion. God still controls His thinking and His actions, even in the grip of powerful emotions.
What's so amazing about that? It's descriptive of an event that we don't see very often. A man cries. I think back to movies I've seen, such as "A League of Their Own", with Tom Hanks acting as the manager of a women's baseball team during WWII. The one line that stands out from that movie is, "There's no crying in baseball."
What does God's Word have to say about the role emotions play in our life and in our faith? The reality is, it doesn't really address this particular question. It talks a lot about people and their feelings and reactions, but if you are looking for some kind of systematic way of understanding emotions, the Bible doesn't really give that to us.
One thing that the Bible does make clear, though, is that there is a place for emotions, and for a rather wide range of them. Jesus wept. Jesus was moved deeply. Jesus was angry. And we see these same things in God, which shouldn't be a surprise, since Jesus and God are one and the same essence. God is saddened by His people. God is deeply moved, enough so to send His Son as our rescuer from His wrath at sin and the condemnation that our sinful life deserves. God has anger, especially at sin, but also at such things as injustice and lack of compassion.
However, God also does not simply react when these emotional states strike. They never overcome His faithfulness toward us, nor does He act rashly toward us because of a powerful emotion. God still controls His thinking and His actions, even in the grip of powerful emotions.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Emotional Discipline
Over the past few weeks, I've been giving my thoughts and some biblical themes on the subject of discipline. We've looked at physical, spiritual, and mental discipline, and now I'm moving into the final area for this discussion: emotional discipline.
In a general sense, do you have control over the emotions you feel in life, or do they have control over you? I ask this as a general rule, since we all have times in our lives where emotions come on strong and hold sway over us. Those times are not part of today's discussion. What we're talking about is life in general. Are you easily distracted from the everyday tasks at hand because your emotions get the better of you? Or, on the other hand, do you approach life as though emotions have no effect whatsoever on what happens?
I would suggest that neither extreme is healthy, nor is it according to the fashion in which God created us as humans. We aren't to be swayed by whatever emotion strikes us, as though our whole life is lived based upon our moods and how things strike us. Neither are we to approach life as though our emotions are something to be discarded and set aside (I believe this is a faulty assumption that comes out of the enlightenment, which seeks objectivity above all, and then fails utterly at it). God created humans with emotion, though He did not create us in such a way that our emotions are to be the determining factor for how we live our lives.
Which end of the spectrum do you tend to fall toward? How has this been a good thing in your life, and how has it also worked to create difficulties?
In a general sense, do you have control over the emotions you feel in life, or do they have control over you? I ask this as a general rule, since we all have times in our lives where emotions come on strong and hold sway over us. Those times are not part of today's discussion. What we're talking about is life in general. Are you easily distracted from the everyday tasks at hand because your emotions get the better of you? Or, on the other hand, do you approach life as though emotions have no effect whatsoever on what happens?
I would suggest that neither extreme is healthy, nor is it according to the fashion in which God created us as humans. We aren't to be swayed by whatever emotion strikes us, as though our whole life is lived based upon our moods and how things strike us. Neither are we to approach life as though our emotions are something to be discarded and set aside (I believe this is a faulty assumption that comes out of the enlightenment, which seeks objectivity above all, and then fails utterly at it). God created humans with emotion, though He did not create us in such a way that our emotions are to be the determining factor for how we live our lives.
Which end of the spectrum do you tend to fall toward? How has this been a good thing in your life, and how has it also worked to create difficulties?
Monday, March 28, 2011
Physical, Spiritual, and Mental Discipline: Tying Them Together
Over the last several posts, I've spent a lot of time on these three. Before moving us into the fourth area of discipline (emotional), it seems like it would be good to bring these three we've looked at all together.
As we look at the way we operate as humans (the way God created us to be), we recognize that we cannot easily divide ourselves to talk about one part of what we are as though it doesn't affect the rest. When our bodies hurt, we often have a difficult time concentrating, and those moments also tend to bring us to low points spiritually. On the other hand, when we introduce greater health to one of these areas, it has a tendency to spill over into the others, as well. (I've noticed this in that my running has helped to sharpen both my thinking and my spiritual disciplines.)
That's the tie that these three have together. When we are unhealthy in one area, it's likely to affect the other areas too. I can't really think of a greater example of this than what you can see on the TV show, "The Biggest Loser". Often you see the contestants breaking into tears at what might seem minor things, but it's because they are crashing through the mental or spiritual barriers that have often led to their lack of physical discipline. Breaking through those barriers is tough, and often should not be done alone, and yet, as we find the strength to do so, we suddenly start to see a better picture of the whole person that God created us to be.
I have to admit that discovering where we are unhealthy in these areas is not often easy, nor is it painless. Uncovering and then confessing our areas of unhealthiness or weakness will never be easy, much less the task of overcoming it. And the reality is, we will never fully overcome any of these while we live in this imperfect, broken (i.e. sinful) world.
Yet, God gives us means in our life and in our battle to strengthen these areas of life. Dealing with these also provides a reminder to just how great life will be in His kingdom when all these areas of life are brought into perfect alignment as we live with God forever, through faith in Jesus.
As we look at the way we operate as humans (the way God created us to be), we recognize that we cannot easily divide ourselves to talk about one part of what we are as though it doesn't affect the rest. When our bodies hurt, we often have a difficult time concentrating, and those moments also tend to bring us to low points spiritually. On the other hand, when we introduce greater health to one of these areas, it has a tendency to spill over into the others, as well. (I've noticed this in that my running has helped to sharpen both my thinking and my spiritual disciplines.)
That's the tie that these three have together. When we are unhealthy in one area, it's likely to affect the other areas too. I can't really think of a greater example of this than what you can see on the TV show, "The Biggest Loser". Often you see the contestants breaking into tears at what might seem minor things, but it's because they are crashing through the mental or spiritual barriers that have often led to their lack of physical discipline. Breaking through those barriers is tough, and often should not be done alone, and yet, as we find the strength to do so, we suddenly start to see a better picture of the whole person that God created us to be.
I have to admit that discovering where we are unhealthy in these areas is not often easy, nor is it painless. Uncovering and then confessing our areas of unhealthiness or weakness will never be easy, much less the task of overcoming it. And the reality is, we will never fully overcome any of these while we live in this imperfect, broken (i.e. sinful) world.
Yet, God gives us means in our life and in our battle to strengthen these areas of life. Dealing with these also provides a reminder to just how great life will be in His kingdom when all these areas of life are brought into perfect alignment as we live with God forever, through faith in Jesus.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Connecting Mental and Spiritual Discipline
Hey, all, sorry that I took yesterday off. Since we are on the theme of discipline, I realized that I needed to discipline myself in having a day to let my mind actually rest a bit. But we're back on track today.
The connection between mental and physical discipline has been covered greatly in other arenas (I have to say that one of my favorite "quotes" is from the ever wise Yogi Bera, who said something along the lines that playing baseball is 90% mental, and the other half is physical. Yogi's math continues to elude even me!). Basically, a part of the rigor of physical discipline is to have the mental capacity to endure through it, to push yourself.
But what about mental and spiritual discipline? That line hasn't been discussed so much. Sure, there are books out there talking about the need for prayer, or to read the Bible, but overall, I would dare say that most of us don't make a clear connection with our mental and spiritual discipline.
My last post was about Jesus and how He does indeed care about how we think and what we think. I want to add to that today with some words from Paul. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8) It seems that Paul is directing the Philippians to think about those things in life which are in line with what God has revealed about Himself. God is truth. God is honorable. God is just, and so on. And so, when we see those reflections of God in this world, we are to think of them, because they guide us back to the God who created such things. Spending our time thinking about fruitless, useless things serves only ourselves.
How well do you do in life with focusing on the things that reflect God in the world? As you see those, do you think of the God who created such things in that way? That's where the realm of mental discipline begins to interact with our spiritual discipline. As we recognize God's hand, we are led to Him, giving thanks and praise for what He has done and continues to do. So today, as you see that which is good, just, honorable, etc., may it bring your thoughts back to the God who sends such reflections into our world.
The connection between mental and physical discipline has been covered greatly in other arenas (I have to say that one of my favorite "quotes" is from the ever wise Yogi Bera, who said something along the lines that playing baseball is 90% mental, and the other half is physical. Yogi's math continues to elude even me!). Basically, a part of the rigor of physical discipline is to have the mental capacity to endure through it, to push yourself.
But what about mental and spiritual discipline? That line hasn't been discussed so much. Sure, there are books out there talking about the need for prayer, or to read the Bible, but overall, I would dare say that most of us don't make a clear connection with our mental and spiritual discipline.
My last post was about Jesus and how He does indeed care about how we think and what we think. I want to add to that today with some words from Paul. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8) It seems that Paul is directing the Philippians to think about those things in life which are in line with what God has revealed about Himself. God is truth. God is honorable. God is just, and so on. And so, when we see those reflections of God in this world, we are to think of them, because they guide us back to the God who created such things. Spending our time thinking about fruitless, useless things serves only ourselves.
How well do you do in life with focusing on the things that reflect God in the world? As you see those, do you think of the God who created such things in that way? That's where the realm of mental discipline begins to interact with our spiritual discipline. As we recognize God's hand, we are led to Him, giving thanks and praise for what He has done and continues to do. So today, as you see that which is good, just, honorable, etc., may it bring your thoughts back to the God who sends such reflections into our world.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Mental Discipline and Jesus
"Then the disciples came and said to [Jesus], 'Why do you speak to them in parables?' And he answered them..., 'This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.'" Matthew 13:10, 13
How is your thinking a reflection of your relationship with Jesus? Most of us likely don't give a lot of thought to the way that we think. Over the years, we have been taught in various ways, in school, in life, and the content of what we have been taught has also shaped what we think.
It is very intriguing to me that Jesus taught quite often using parables. In fact, as I read through the Gospels about Jesus' life, one thing seems to come up quite regularly in Jesus' teaching. He rarely gives a straight-forward answer. Instead, He makes people think, and in doing so, forces them to come to the conclusion that He desires. For example, when the paralyzed man is brought to Him by his four friends, Jesus announces that the man's sins are forgiven. That's hardly why the friends brought him to Jesus. Knowing the thoughts of the religious leaders in the room, that only God can forgive sins, Jesus challenges them with a question. Which one is easier to do from an earthly, human standpoint: tell the man to get up and walk, or announce that his sins are forgiven. Of course, the religious leaders could not answer that it's easier to have the man get up and walk. They would be exposed when he didn't. So the answer would be to announce that his sins were forgiven. After all, who can see sins forgiven? It's not obvious to us humans.
That's when Jesus brings in the hammer to the argument. Here's how you will know who I am. Then He told the man to get up and walk, and he did. Jesus could have answered their thoughts by saying, "Hey, I'm God, I can do this." Instead, Jesus worked in such a way to challenge their thinking, so that they arrived at the same conclusion on their own.
Jesus is dearly concerned with how we think. He doesn't want to simply spoon feed the answers to life to us, but for us to give thought to the mysteries of life, and to recognize how everything, in the end, points back to Him. Good and bad, plenty and need, all parts of life eventually guide our thoughts back to the One who has rescued us from sin, death, and Satan.
How is your thinking a reflection of your relationship with Jesus? Most of us likely don't give a lot of thought to the way that we think. Over the years, we have been taught in various ways, in school, in life, and the content of what we have been taught has also shaped what we think.
It is very intriguing to me that Jesus taught quite often using parables. In fact, as I read through the Gospels about Jesus' life, one thing seems to come up quite regularly in Jesus' teaching. He rarely gives a straight-forward answer. Instead, He makes people think, and in doing so, forces them to come to the conclusion that He desires. For example, when the paralyzed man is brought to Him by his four friends, Jesus announces that the man's sins are forgiven. That's hardly why the friends brought him to Jesus. Knowing the thoughts of the religious leaders in the room, that only God can forgive sins, Jesus challenges them with a question. Which one is easier to do from an earthly, human standpoint: tell the man to get up and walk, or announce that his sins are forgiven. Of course, the religious leaders could not answer that it's easier to have the man get up and walk. They would be exposed when he didn't. So the answer would be to announce that his sins were forgiven. After all, who can see sins forgiven? It's not obvious to us humans.
That's when Jesus brings in the hammer to the argument. Here's how you will know who I am. Then He told the man to get up and walk, and he did. Jesus could have answered their thoughts by saying, "Hey, I'm God, I can do this." Instead, Jesus worked in such a way to challenge their thinking, so that they arrived at the same conclusion on their own.
Jesus is dearly concerned with how we think. He doesn't want to simply spoon feed the answers to life to us, but for us to give thought to the mysteries of life, and to recognize how everything, in the end, points back to Him. Good and bad, plenty and need, all parts of life eventually guide our thoughts back to the One who has rescued us from sin, death, and Satan.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Speak Before You Think? I Think Not!
One of the regular tasks I have in my career is to work with 7th and 8th grade students, teaching them about some of the more important components of the Christian faith. As part of our classes together, we spend a good deal of time reading the Bible and simply trying to figure out what it says.
Every once in a while, we will finish reading a section of the Bible, and I will ask the students what they just read. It always amazes me when they give an answer that is completely unrelated to the Bible reading we just completed. I really try to stress to them that pre-packaged answers, given without thought, do no one any good.
Yet, I have experienced that more than just in working with these young people. I am constantly amazed at how few people really seem to think before they speak. There seems to be an amazing lack of discipline when it comes to putting thoughts into words. I've been part of conversations that seem to go all over the place, with no rhyme or reason on how the person got to the next subject. Yes, I recognize that we all make some kind of connection with our thoughts in our mind, but that seems to be exactly the thing that I'm talking about. It seems that we should think about that thought, and its place in the conversation, rather than just blurting it out.
In fact, I would dare say that mental discipline begins with the skill of listening. Our society and culture has become much more oriented toward speaking rather than listening. Developing the discipline of listening to what the other person says is one of the first steps toward building a greater mental discipline.
Today, when you find yourself in conversation with others, I suggest that you listen intently to what they are saying, and then focus the conversation on what they are talking about, and not the brilliant idea or thought that just popped into your head. I truly believe that the first step of developing greater mental discipline is simply to listen to the other person, and then, to follow their lead. Try it, and if you'd like to share your experience, I would love to listen to you and hear all about it!
Every once in a while, we will finish reading a section of the Bible, and I will ask the students what they just read. It always amazes me when they give an answer that is completely unrelated to the Bible reading we just completed. I really try to stress to them that pre-packaged answers, given without thought, do no one any good.
Yet, I have experienced that more than just in working with these young people. I am constantly amazed at how few people really seem to think before they speak. There seems to be an amazing lack of discipline when it comes to putting thoughts into words. I've been part of conversations that seem to go all over the place, with no rhyme or reason on how the person got to the next subject. Yes, I recognize that we all make some kind of connection with our thoughts in our mind, but that seems to be exactly the thing that I'm talking about. It seems that we should think about that thought, and its place in the conversation, rather than just blurting it out.
In fact, I would dare say that mental discipline begins with the skill of listening. Our society and culture has become much more oriented toward speaking rather than listening. Developing the discipline of listening to what the other person says is one of the first steps toward building a greater mental discipline.
Today, when you find yourself in conversation with others, I suggest that you listen intently to what they are saying, and then focus the conversation on what they are talking about, and not the brilliant idea or thought that just popped into your head. I truly believe that the first step of developing greater mental discipline is simply to listen to the other person, and then, to follow their lead. Try it, and if you'd like to share your experience, I would love to listen to you and hear all about it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)