God told the prophet Jeremiah that His people had committed two evils. First, they had forsaken Him, the fountain of living waters and second, they had carved out large stone vessels that were broken and could hold no water. There is an everlasting difference between a fountain of living fresh water and a broken pot that cannot hold anything.
Above all other physical needs, God designed us to use water every day. Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians that our outward man is perishing Even with daily doses of water, the "house" we live in is dying. In the same passage, however, Paul told us that our inward man is being renewed day by day. Make no mistake, this twenty-four hour cycle that finds us waking up in a new day was created with purpose. We live in a concrete reminder of our dependence on taking daily spiritual nourishment from the Living Source of Life.
Yes, to be born again is absolutely essential. But also to be nourished after that birth is essential. God's health to our "spiritual bones" cannot be put in one's pocket like a hot roll, forgotten about until it ends up in the washing machine. God's spiritual nourishment is like the manna that came to the children of Israel daily.* Those who did not heed his instructions, and through greed or fear gathered more than they could eat, found that yesterday's manna became today's breeding ground for maggots.
We all understand the motivation of those who gathered more than they needed. It takes a strong faith to trust that the manna will be there tomorrow. It takes a humble spirit to admit and act upon such a glaring dependence on another. And it takes a willful step toward that help every single day - a step that takes time.
Life's experiences have taught us to be wary of depending on another. We are driven to use our time wisely. We even loathe the idea of tasks that are repetitive. A good job is one that stays done - like bridges and dams.
But we are asked by our Creator to put these self-fulfilling needs aside - almost to become a fool for Him. We are humiliated by this dependence in some deep place of our pride. That is a normal reaction to dependence. It is normal but deadly to our relationship with God.
And has He ever failed to deliver that fresh living water to us when we went to Him? Prayers perhaps have gone unanswered. Questions still plague our mind. But turned away thirsty? Never!
The Living Spring waits. A visit there will cost us our time and our pride. But empty broken vessels are crafted with this pride. And we cannot survive unless we take the time to drink. So we must go to the Spring - we must go there now. We must go there every day. We must go again - go again and again.


*Manna to be gathered daily except for a double portion on day preceding the Sabbath.
(Jeremiah 2:13; 2 Corinthians 4:16; Proverbs 3:8; John 3:3; Exodus 16:5; Exodus 16:20; Proverbs 6:16, 17; Isaiah 55:1).

It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, coming just second on the list behind love. It captivated the focus of Jesus Christ. For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, scorned the shame and sat down on the right hand of the throne of God.
We are told to count it all joy when we encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance. Joy was welded to the disciples' character when they saw the resurrected Christ and no one could ever take it from them. Our joy is made full when our prayers are answered. There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.
Is joy a feeling?
Joy can make one feel good - but the emotion that joy may produce is not joy itself. There is an element in joy that is a yearning or longing. Joy is a word used to attempt to describe a powerful working of the human heart. We have the power to hold in our heart the certain knowledge that we are living out our part in the Master's plan. Joy is the yearning for that moment when our faith will be sight. This yearning, fueled by the Holy Spirit of God, leaves no room for doubt or the possibility of disappointment.
Joy stakes everything on the truth that death could not hold Jesus Christ in the grave. Any circumstance, past present or future, cannot alter that. In fact, joy's arena is the heart that embraces all circumstance in the sure knowledge that we are moving toward a reunion that is beyond our comprehension.

(Galatians 5:22; Hebrews 12:2; James 1:2; John 16:22; John 16:24; Luke 15:10)

Psalm 131 begins "Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don't concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp." The Psalm was written by King David and it is only three verses long.
He continues, "Surely, I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child." The Hebrew language paints a picture of how a believer behaves and quiets himself. The word means to level out or equalize. It implies an adjustment that works as a counterbalance and its use in this context is evidence God has not abandoned us to try to maintain a behavior about which we know nothing.
In the subtle beauty of the language, this passage reveals the Power at work in our hearts that compels us to make a conscious choice to shift our focus off ourselves and on to God. The word the Hebrew writers used as "behave" is translated "compare" in Proverbs 3:15 when wisdom is described. "All the things we can desire are not to be compared to her (wisdom)." Behaving encompasses the act of comparison! The lightning computations of our mind can balance our behavior by comparing it to a blueprint that God makes available to us moment by moment through His indwelling Spirit.
Another picture is drawn for us in Isaiah 28:25 using the Hebrew word for "behaved." A man plowing his field has made that field "plain" and ready for sowing by leveling it. That "plain" level field represents every believer whose heart is a place where God can plant and then gather the fruits of a surrendered heart.
In addition to behaving himself, the psalmist "quieted" himself. The word quieted holds another key to the mindset of the believer. "Quieted" is translated "rest" in Psalm 37:7. "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him." It is also translated as "wait" in Psalm 62:5. "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him."
As a child that is weaned, the believer has ripened into a mature person who makes a willful choice to measure and adjust his behavior according to the benchmark set by the Holy Spirit who dwells within. Now that's behavior modification!

Do You Buy Christian?
When was the last time you made a conscious decision to make a sure your money was spent supporting another Christian? If you can answer that question at all, you are probably ahead of most of us. There was a time when people understood the impact their spending had. Years ago the concept of spending your money close to home was understood to be a vital part of supporting your local community. In the US it was especially important to buy products that were made in the USA. In today's so called global economy that concept has been nearly erased. We are more than willing to drive across the metro area to save some cash on our new television, and many of us look for something on eBay® before we even walk into a local retailer. We even ship our jobs to other countries because it helps us reduce costs, raise profits, and supposedly lower prices. That being said, I bet you think I am crazy for asking if you buy Christian.
I am a bit crazy, but that's ok. Truth is - I am just crazy enough to raise a topic that could not only help Christians all over our world but will, no doubt, draw fire from certain people opposed to the idea. I'm ok with that because those are the same people who would just assume Christians keep their mouths shut and their crazy morals and ideals to themselves.
All I want to do is make you think; actually, I want you to imagine. Imagine the impact your support could have on the Christian economy. Yes, I said the Christian economy. There is an economic cycle for just about every social group in society, and Christians are no different than the rest. At its simplest form it's as basic as money in versus money out. In reality, it is much more important than that.
Let me explain a bit more about what I mean by the term Christian economy. An individual Christian makes a living - earning income and spending it according to how the individual sees fit. The money they earn then goes to various other people and organizations. Hopefully, that Christian gives some of his income to support his own social group (other Christians). He might give it to his church, another Christian organization, or purchase a ticket to a Christian concert. The portion of the money the individual either spends or gives to other Christians stays within the Christian economy. It then goes to support others in various ways and ultimately, ends up being spent again adding to another individual or organization's income. You might also call it the life cycle of the Christian dollar. As long as that dollar stays in the hands of Christians, it is alive and being used to benefit the entire group. The money leaving the Christian economy (which is the entire portion of an individual Christian's income not spent with or donated to other Christians) is essentially dead to the body of Christ.
Let's make a couple of comparisons. You have an extra hundred dollars and you decided to give that money to your local church. That money then goes to purchase various things your church needs (many of which are purchased from other Christian organizations) and to pay the staff members. Let's not forget to mention that all of that is done to equip the church to be able to serve individuals. Your money is alive and kicking. After it finally reaches another individual Christian's pay check, some of that money is invested again into the Christian economy. On the flip side, say you use that extra hundred to buy a new cell phone. You give it to your wireless carrier who pays their vendors, their employees, and their owners. You can hope someone along the way is a Christian and some of it might find its way back into our economy, but there is no measurable chance of that.
The difference between donating the money and spending it is obvious. Donating the money is better for our "Christian economy." However, we can't donate all of our money. So, let's look at a better way to spend it. Let's say you really need that new cell phone, and you decided to buy that phone from the guy at church who happens to earn his living selling phones for a wireless company. In that case you got the phone you needed, and he made a commission for helping you buy it. You helped another Christian earn a living. In fact, your friend probably earned between five and fifty dollars on your purchase depending on the circumstances. Let's just call it twenty to make it easy. The twenty dollars is now still alive in the Christian economy and is useful for the Kingdom of God. To take it one step further, what if you spent that hundred dollars at a business owned and operated by another Christian? Then you not only helped the owner but the other Christians he most likely employees and so on, all the way down the line. You actually, by spending that money with a Christian business, just put part of it in the offering at the businessman's church. You did the same for the churches of any Christians the business employs, as well.
There is also more at stake than just the local economic success of Christians. There are people all over our world who need to hear about Jesus, and unless someone pays for our mission trips and church plants, they will never hear the good news of Christ. Who funds the outreach efforts of missionaries? It isn't GoDaddy.com®, and we can be certain that Nike® isn't paying the salaries of our pastors. Don't look at Uncle Sam, either. He isn't footing the bill so the Gideons can send ten thousand Bibles to Russia. It's Joe Christian. Who knows? He might even own his own plumbing company; so next time you need your drain fixed, shouldn't you call him instead of some random plumber?
I hope you are now imagining the potential impact your spending can have. Like I said earlier, it is as simple as money in versus money out. The more important thing is what we do with the money rather than how much money we have. The question is how are we using the money we are given? Consider the teaching Jesus gave his disciples in Luke 16. The parable is about a shrewd manager. You can read it here. This is not an easy parable to understand, but the message Jesus gives us is clear. How we spend our money matters, and we should use the money we have with heaven in mind.
I hope that you will join me in an attempt to bolster the Christian economy. This is a real opportunity to impact our world in the way Jesus commanded us. The more money we consciously invest into our economy with Christian businesses and business people, the more people they employ, and the more money that is given to our churches and ministries. The bottom line is more people are reached for Christ.
Here are a few suggestions on what we can do. Let's start with the big things, making certain that we get these correct. Take a look at your major purchases such as homes, cars, investments, insurance, and education. Make a commitment to only do business with Christians in these areas first. Next time you buy a car, purchase it from a Christian car salesman, same thing with a home, mortgage, or insurance. If you are not sure where to find a Christian business person, just ask around at church. If that doesn't work, look in the yellow pages for a professional who identifies him/herself as a Christian. You can also look for Christian businesses online. Because I am so passionate about this, my organization, Men of Jesus, is starting to build an online directory of Christian businesses and business people. You can find it at www.menofjesus.org.
If we all make a commitment to use our spending power wisely with our large purchases, the little ones will become easier as well. If you already have a Christian insurance agent, then next time you get your hair cut find a Christian hair dresser or barber and tell them why you are doing business with them. If you are willing to spend the time and effort, I bet you can find a Christian businessperson for just about everything you need.
Remember buying Christian is about supporting our faith. It's about having a common purpose and being faithful managers of our blessings. It requires a conscious decision and a pro-active approach. Most importantly it is about equipping the body of Christ to reach people and spread the good news. I bet you never thought you could do that by spending money.

Hey guys; come talk to me for a minute will you? What's really going on here? As I look around our world it seems like we aren't wanted anymore. I mean it's almost as if most of the world wishes we would just crawl in a hole and die. You know what I mean. Real men aren't exactly wanted anymore. I'm not going to go on a rant about how men are being feminized; honestly I don't feel like even playing that game.

It almost seems impossible to be a Christian man these days. The last thing most people in this world want to see is a confident and strong man who follows Christ and isn't afraid to live a life that shows it. Let me get to the point. Our enemy wants to isolate us, rob us of our identity, overwhelm us with sin, cause us to lose focus on what matters and then make us give up.

I don't know about you but I'm not giving up. I'm willing to fight. I'm willing to stand by your side. Read more

The coming holidays will bring together millions of hosts and guests to dine and celebrate the season. Many years ago, a group of prominent religious leaders decided to host a dinner. They put their heads together and agreed on a date and time, the guest list and the seating arrangement. The dinner was to be held on their Sabbath. One of the invited guests was a man who had a severe case of oedema, a painful condition caused by excessive fluid beneath the skin. He was the unwitting "shill." He was invited to trip up another guest. That guest's name was Jesus. The story is found in Luke 14.
The One who is the God-man, omniscience that dwelled among men, arrived at the party and his hosts "watched him." Everything seemed to be going according to their plan. Jesus turned His attention to the man who was ill. For a moment, the religious leaders held their collective breath - they thought they had him. And then the Lord of the Sabbath asked, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"
Keep in mind that by this time the laws concerning one's movements on a Sabbath had been dissected, objected to and debated until the only ones elated were the ones selling the ink to keep it all straight. While the "camel swallowing experts" were mulling over legalities, Jesus healed the man and "let him go." At times we may feel we are out of the loop at one of life's "parties." We may sense there are issues raging around us that are beyond our control or understanding. In those instances, we can rest in the truth that our Savior has healed us and "let us go." Like the guest at this dinner, our part is done. God sees fit to handle some situations His way without our assistance.
Such was the case after Jesus healed the man under the silent watchful eyes of his hosts. Needless to say, there was probably a lull in the conversation. It was then that Jesus called attention to the behavior of the guests. It seemed they all wanted to sit at the "head table." 21st Century brides' magazines would be appalled at the advice Jesus gave that the head table should be shunned at all costs. In a sense, every Christian has been invited to sit down and have a meal with the Savior (Revelation 3:20). But only God knows who is on His guest list. We need to avoid the trap of wondering where we will sit at His table. God has the place cards all worked out.
After Jesus gave a Divine perspective on the behavior of guests, He turned to the art of hosting. As He looked around that day, He would have noticed the laughter and good-natured jostling of people who lived the accepted ethics of social interaction that are still alive today. "Scratch my back, I scratch yours - it's a win-win situation." So what was our Savior's final bombshell of etiquette? The hosts had the guest list all wrong! He told them that people invited to share in what is offered should be those who are unable to repay the favor. Jesus calls us to live by a not-so-popular "win-lose" situation. In essence it is this: I scratch your back after I have given you the shirt off mine.
Inviting Jesus to a dinner party may have seemed like a good idea at the time. The religious leaders truly believed they had a temporary rabble rouser on their hands. A deep-rooted sense of self-importance and pride refused to make room for the possibility they had it all wrong. This holiday season, whether a host or a guest, we have the advantage of learning from their mistakes.
I'm just wondering if Jesus had to let himself out after the party was over.

When did Christians embrace the idea that drunkenness is a disease, being overweight is a medical condition, and drug use is too difficult for the God of the universe to overcome? Thousands of churches are hosting "Twelve Step" programs and those who participate are finding little hope. That is just the tip of the iceberg. Christians are not living a life in Christ that is readily available on a daily basis. Rather than conquering the problem they hide it. The abundant life is more pretense than honest victory!
The behavior is not the real issue. The behavior is a symptom of the true problem within. Stopping the behavior will have no effect on changing the real issues. The problem goes beyond the behavior to the cause of the behavior. I am talking about your beliefs. You currently have a source inside of you that influences you to do the things you do not want to do. By changing your beliefs, many behaviors will cease to have control of your life.
In my program BiblicalMind I challenge many of the things taught and believed today. I am not ensnared in some wild eyed ego-driven philosophy. In fact, the answers I give are so obvious many wonder why they never saw these things before. BiblicalMind is based on Biblical principles and I have done my best to write as clearly as possible without making the program too lengthy. My goal is for those who need help to read and understand the principles as quickly as possible and then begin their own journey. I have lowered the cost from $165.00 to only $19.95 in an effort to reach as many people as possible through the holiday season. Please join me in praying for this effort.

The Bible teaches there is a new life for those who believe in Christ. The sad truth is there is little difference between many who find Jesus and those who do not. I do not believe you have to accept this! If Jesus is who He said He is, and if there is a reality to the so-called daily Christian walk, then Christians should be different. "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being LIKEMINDED."
Part of the trouble is we have been led astray and forgotten to take responsibility for what we put into our own minds! Romans 12: 2 says "and be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND!" Paul was telling us a very important thing here - and it requires action on our part.
It may have become a mystery to you why you seem to do things over and over. It feels like an uncontrollable habit. This behavior has become so much a part of your daily life that the distinction between you and the habit cannot be distinguished. In many ways, you believe you are the habit. Years ago, people said, "I have a problem with this or that." Now it is very different; people say things like "I am an addict." In today's society people are encouraged to label themselves. This labeling has contributed to the fact that millions of people's minds accept as fact they are forever caught in a behavior they cannot overcome.
When did Christians embrace the idea that drunkenness is a disease, being overweight is a medical condition, and drug use is too difficult for the God of the universe to overcome? Thousands of churches are hosting "Twelve Step" programs and those who participate are finding little hope. That is just the tip of the iceberg. Christians are not living a life in Christ that is readily available on a daily basis. Rather than conquering the problem they hide it. The abundant life is more pretense than honest victory!
The behavior is not the real issue. The behavior is a symptom of the true problem within. Stopping the behavior will have no effect on changing the real issues. The problem goes beyond the behavior to the cause of the behavior. I am talking about your beliefs. You currently have a source inside of you that influences you to do the things you do not want to do. By changing your beliefs, many behaviors will cease to have control of your life.
The renewing of your mind does not happen by chance. It does not happen without an investment of time and effort on your part. It happens when a person spends time with the One who designed them. The Lord Jesus Christ knows everything about you. He knows how your mind works. He knows what you struggle with from day to day.

I believe every man has something inside of him which drives him to become a man who leaves a significant impact on our world. My quest for significance has driven me to the place where I am today. In my attempt to follow the calling the Lord has placed on my heart I have started an organization called Men of Jesus. My passion is leadership and to see the people of our world led based on the Truth which God has given us since the day of our creation. For me significance lies in the ability to lead based on God's Truth. I firmly believe that when people follow a leader; regardless of their worldly position of leadership; who leads based on the Truth which is Christ, they will be directly and eternally impacted for God. This can easily be said in the following statement. As followers of Christ we are to not only lead other believers but we are to lead our world. When the people of this world are lead by a true authentic follower of Christ they will be changed, their eyes will be opened, they will see Christ living in that person and they will at the least become aware of the presence of God in their world today.

There are many great men out there who are calling men to impact the lives of other men one by one. They are suggesting spiritual reproduction through one on one discipleship. I completely agree with, support and take part in following this approach. The relationship Paul and Timothy had is nearly always referenced. It teaches that the spiritually mature should mentor and disciple others so that they too can become mature. Then they are to do the same for others. It's a kind of pay it forward principle. Invest in the lives of other men and have them do the same. Then we will have more great men out there to spread the word of God. This philosophy is critical to the continued growth of men who are in our Churches today.

I want to express my concern about the men who are not in our Churches today. I heard a very scary statistic a few months back while I was watching an Acquire the Fire conference on TV. It said that of our current youth today less than four percent of them are bible believing Christians. Less than Four percent! Where is our world going to be when that generation is leading it? The United States will no longer be a Christian nation in 20 years. We are on the verge of losing that right now. I want you to think about what life in our country will look like when Christians are no longer a majority. It's hard for most American born Christians to think about living in a society where their faith is anything but the most prevalent. Most of us have no clue what that would be like. We have no concept of the type of religious persecution we would no doubt begin to face. The need for leaders of significance is about to become painfully obvious.

Let's take this discussion to a place that hits home with all guys. How many of us have Christian leader in our work place today? I mean you specifically report to a Manager or Director who is a Christian. Chances are that if you don't work somewhere in the Church or a Christian organization you don't have a Christian leader. I had the opportunity to ask that question last year at an Iron Sharpens Iron conference which Men of Jesus helped to sponsor. In the five minutes I had to address the men at the conference I asked them to raise their hand if they had a Christian leader at work. About 15 - 20 hands went up out of around 400 men. I then asked those who worked in a Church or any other Christian organization to put their hands down. We were left with somewhere between 6-8 hands. Out of the 400 or so guys there about 8 who worked for a Christian outside of the Church. That's about 2%. Read more

"IT IS ALL PAID FOR" living should be a way of life for a true Christian.  The Christian who has a 'handle' on this has the ability to live a 'staggering' life.

I have spent years - literally - burdened with sorrow and grief over the things I did - mistakes made - bad choices. I have lived as if I had to pay the price over and over. Satan wanted me to live there.  Of course, I was useless for God!

No matter that Christ paid the price, it is the deep belief that you must continue to pay, which actually makes you pay. You will live out your days carrying penalties that are paid for. Read more

If my life would end today, all would be done.  I would be finished.  All the things I still thought needed to be done - left undone - would stay.  That day...my journey would stop...sealed forever.  And I can not deceive myself, that day will come.

"It is Finished" for me will happen during my journey.  Yes there will be milestones that I count as 'destinations", but they are not the destination.  Not my destination.  My destination will be accomplished only with my life's last breath.

So...I must...to remain 'sane'...grasp each day's task and enjoy each step.  Today I should never give up.  God is taking my through this journey with His purpose in mind one day at a time.  I should never skip one breath's enjoyment. Read more

You don't need medication - nor do you need to go to a support group.  You, as a Christian, have all the support group you need - inside you. THE HOLY SPIRIT.  Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Morning or night.  Even on cloudy days.  On the days you don't have enough gas to drive to the store.  When confused - He is not.  When you give up - He waits until you are ready to go again.  And He waits patiently.

He is not hiding from you.  He is not hiding the answer.  It may not be easy to find, He wants you to seek, to ask, to knock on the door.  In your search, He will teach you things you need to know. He does not promise a short cut, for He focuses on the journey.  He knows the advisary.  He knows that without the journey - the destination you seek will not be secure. Read more

It grieves me that thousands of people who struggle with alcohol brand themselves publicly by saying "I am an alcoholic." They may be stating the truth, but is it side-stepping a greater truth? Is a half-truth more dangerous than a lie?

When a person stands in a meeting and says "I am an alcoholic," they are not telling a lie, because there is in every man an inherited helpless tendency toward a life of sin. It is no different from a person who might confess his failings in a meeting called for the purpose of anger management or for the purpose of overcoming the use of pornography or illegal and prescription drugs. We are all born carrying the spiritual and genetic inheritance of Adam. But no amount of confessing that we are helpless will overcome the truth that our sinful flesh is actually energized to do wrong when we are faced with the standard of God's righteousness. "For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death" (Romans 7:11 NIV).

This is where a line is drawn between meetings of people who are born again and people who are unbelievers. Unbelievers who are able to put aside the mastery of alcohol or drugs will find that other outgrowths of sin will manifest in their behaviors. They are in fact, taken captive by the devil at his will.

On the other hand, believers who have confessed their sin and received the Spirit of God have actually been party to the spiritual transaction where they have died with Christ and raised with Him to a new life. Paul covers this subject in Romans. "For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives...You know that the law applies only while a person is living...So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead" (Romans 6:4; 7:1,4 NLT).

"Well then, since God's grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living" (Romans 6:15,16 NLT).

The truth about the lie being told to those caught in destructive behaviors is simply this. The lie is a half-truth. "I am an alcoholic," is true in the sense that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We are all subject to the same sinful life of the alcoholic. But this statement side steps the greater truth: that man's sinful nature has received the death blow through the sacrifice and resurrection of the risen Lord. Every Christian has been given the gift of a new life; the past life with the deeds of the flesh is dead. On this all-powerful foundation we build our choices to live a life in Christ, free of destructive behavior.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20 NIV).

I had to start my morning with a confession that I let depression get the best of me - I'm like the old guy who sits down thirsty just beyond reach of a refreshing cool bottle of water and then feels sorry for himself because he's thirsty. "My God shall supply all your need" is coursing through my mind and the emphasis is on "God" - if I would just have sense enough to pick up HIS WORD!

Have you ever notice that reading God's Word is just like manna? It only lasts from sun up to sun down? This "evening and morning" rhythm of our lives is such a mystery to me - but it is absolute law in my spiritual needs. If I go 2 or 3 days without letting God "talk to me" through His Word, I'm toast!

The spiritual life is such a dichotomy - if I just run around and go to church and "fellowship" I am gutted like a fish inside and feel empty. Spending time ALONE with Jesus and HIS WORD is paramount to LIFE. Read more

"What were you thinking?" Who has not heard that question at some time in their life? The person being asked that question has done something or said something that has exposed the root of all our actions and all our speech - our thought life.

God created man unique in that he is able to articulate his thoughts in a written and spoken language. He is able to comprehend the universe around him, not just through his five senses, but also through the recorded history of those who have gone before. He is able to develop a world view that combines his own experiences with the wisdom and knowledge of the ages. He establishes selfless bonds with other human beings that endure all trials and defy the logic of self protection. He is capable of the highest acts of devotion and he can be the perpetrator of the vilest acts of cruelty. Man is the most complex creation in the universe and the powerhouse of that complexity is the human mind.

Our thoughts are powerful forces. We were designed to be that way and the Word of God gives us a glimpse of the force of thought. The word for "think" in the Bible (as it relates to our thoughts in Philippians 4:8) is linked closely with the Greek word "logos" - the Word. Although God dwells in the eternal Light that no man can approach to (1 Timothy 6:16), He chose to communicate His thoughts with us through the Word that was made flesh. "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Jesus said "He that has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

Our thoughts and the consequent actions and words they produce are an infinitesimal imitation of the power of the One who created us, the one who is God from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2). Any ability we have to think, reason or understand has come from Him "who endowed the heart with wisdom (and) gave understanding to the mind" (Job 38:36).

We need to be very aware of the power that thoughts generate in our lives. It is no wonder that Scripture is filled with admonitions and instructions about our thought life. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." The New Century Version of the Bible translates this verse as follows: "Be careful what you think because your thoughts run your life." This wellspring of thought has also been called our imagination. It is the place in our mind where we can create images of our God, others and ourselves. The Word of God calls this ability "desire" or "meditation." It is no wonder David cried "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

BY CONNIE HORN

The goal of breaking a habit (or addiction) is not "breaking the habit". The goal must go beyond that. It must be to gain the very thing you get in touch with by performing the unwanted behavior. Surely no one started smoking to be a smoker. Nor did anyone start gambling to gamble. This is true with almost every harmful behavior. The goal was beyond the habit, and in many ways, that goal must have been obtained, or the behavior would have stopped!

Let's use as an example the young boy who wanted to smoke. He did this to be ‘cool' and he believed that by smoking he would achieve his ‘dream'. It was difficult at first, in fact the first few times he smoked, he actually got sick! But the goal was set before him and finally he could light up without a thought. He finally achieved the ‘look' he wanted. Goal met!

In my book "The Biblical Mind", I discuss a divorced woman who began to overeat and gained weight. Her goal was not eating and of course she did not set out to gain those unwanted pounds. The goal was the pleasure and escape she gained by that bowl of ice cream. Goal met! Read more

Those who live with destructive behaviors and/or habits lead a double life. For the vast majority, the behavior does not appear to have been the result of genetic factors but a learned activity. It began with something small, possibly even harmless, and before long a fixed pattern developed. It became a habit and then a way of life. From this point forward the behavior has become so firmly established to some it appears to be a genetic problem.

For instance; a young boy sees his first pornographic picture. In today's world of the internet and television, this is inevitable. At first it doesn't seem like much but it is certainly on his mind. In a couple of days he goes back to the picture "just to take a second look" and before too long every chance he gets. He hides this from others. As his experience with pornography builds he begins to take extra secure measures to hide his trail. If printed pictures, they are hidden in a safe place somewhere. Over time he wants to see more and more. It becomes such a habit that it becomes a way of life. It is at this point he feels he must lead a double life. Read more

I have come to realize that many of the behaviors I have struggled with in my life are directly related to not properly dealing with past experiences. These past experiences held me prisoner in a life far from what God intended. I was already a young man with an appetite for life when I came to know Jesus Christ. At that time I dedicated my life to Him, earned a degree in Biblical Psychology and went into full time ministry. I believed (and still do) that God called me to reach Christians who have a sincere desire to live a victorious life, yet struggle deeply with past and present problems.
After fourteen years in the ministry, I reverted to my "past life." I turned my back on God and pursued a career in the financial industry. I sought contentment in things (money, houses, and cars) and made every human effort to gain them. I achieved monetarily what few ever do. However, at the pinnacle of my "success," I was ashamed to call myself a Christian. I knew my sin, I was constantly aware of my compromise, and my conscience was never clear. I was never able to hold my head high and a deep darkness of heart and soul consumed me.
Although I left God, He never forgot me and through several events He regained my heart. I set out on a journey to return. I read every book I could find and studied scripture daily. I even went so far as to isolate myself completely to figure out how to regain what I lost and what had gone wrong. It was during this time I developed what I called "PageTwo." It began with two sheets of paper. Page One was what I had become when I turned my back on God. Page One was what I wanted to put in the past. Page Two was what I wanted to be; the new man described by the apostle Paul. I used those two pages to reprogram myself to believe and live my PageTwo life in Christ. The results have changed my life forever. This journey has led to the program called 'BiblicalMind'.

The Bible teaches there is a new life for those who believe in Christ. The sad truth is there is little difference between many who find Jesus and those who do not. I do not believe you have to accept this! If Jesus is who He said He is, and if there is a reality to the so-called daily Christian walk, then Christians should be different. "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being LIKEMINDED." Part of the trouble is we have been led astray and forgotten to take responsibility for what we put into our own minds! Romans 12: 2 says "and be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND!" Paul was telling us a very important thing here - and it requires action on our part.

Thousands, maybe millions of Christians stand up in various meetings across this country, state their name, and say they are an alcoholic. They do so hoping it will help them overcome the struggle they face.

Now before you call me a blasphemer for saying this about Jesus, I know Jesus would never attend a meeting and make this statement. For several reasons: it is impossible for Jesus to be an alcoholic. First: Some making the statement are claiming they have a disease and Jesus had no diseases. Second: Jesus was free of any sin, the spotless lamb that died to pay for the things we have done and are doing. And the list could go on and on. Jesus was not an alcoholic.

But that leads me to the following thoughts to stimulate your mind: Read more

When Jesus left this earth he gave us something very important. He could have given us anything, and given the chance to choose our "GIFT" from the "creator of all things", I would assume we could come up with some cool stuff.
But Jesus said - "I am leaving you with a gift . . . Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give unto you"
You've got to be kidding right? How about wealth, power, wisdom, or maybe even a cattle on a thousand hills...but peace?
Yes, he gave us peace. Now, if Jesus gave us peace, then why don't so many Christians have it?
I challenge you to grasp the truth that negative behaviors (habits, addictions, etc) you face today are holding you back from a life of peace and fulfillment. Additionally, realize that even as harmful as your behavior is, it is the pattern of failure in this area of your life that is even more devastating. I want to say that once more so that you understand how important it is. The failure becomes as much of an issue as the original behavior.
It may seem an impossible task to unravel the causes for your behavior. The human mind is the most complex organism in the universe. It was created by God when He created man in His image. And the human mind was created so that the incomprehensible God could be comprehended by His creation. Man had perfect understanding from the beginning. God gave him a beautiful place to live and work and plenty of good food to eat.
Along with the ability to understand his creator, God gave man a will of his own. It was to be exercised immediately; he was given the opportunity to choose to obey or disobey. The consequence of Adam's choice is the sin nature. It has been passed on to every person who has ever lived.
Why discuss that here? Because the human mind is the root of our behavior. And the human mind was affected by the sin of Adam. Paul taught us in Romans that "those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."
Did you see that? HAVE THEIR MINDS SET!
Our unique ability of self-consciousness (of thinking in terms of who we are and why we are alive) exists for a very important reason. This reason is for us to find God. And finding Him is not simply getting a ticket to go to heaven. It's not just about getting something in the future; it's about becoming someone different right here, right now. AND THEN to SET OUR MIND ON BIBLICAL TRUTH.