What You Think Matters

Prologue

Living souls with human consciousness arrive with raw sensory data pouring in that can only be stored, not understood.  Eyes open seeing.  Ears hear.  Feeling feels.  Taste wants.  Vocal chords sound.  Noses smell.  None has idea of what is going on.  Anxiety attack number one has begun.  It is not until the new one feels the clutched closeness to feel the known music and rhythm of the drum it has known during pod season does a sense of security and calm come.

The announcement follows of     I AM     here in the first cries of wanting and needing what cannot be expressed.  The one who holds the new arrival places a nourishing part of her body near to the new one’s mouth and the installed software programmed instinct of nature older than time itself generates a connection of call and response satisfied.  Ahhhhhhhhh, this is happiness.  Did you know there was an app for that?

This is the human lot for a lifetime.  We do not know what we do not know.  We take steps into the unknown to begin to catalogue our experience of data collection.  We learn quickly the law of cause and effect.  We learn that if we cry loud enough long enough our cause, an effect will follow, one we hope will satisfy.  From these experiences of data collection, we begin to think and then to manipulate all things external to ourselves to get what we want.  This is our design.  This is how the Creator has made us.  This is why WHAT YOU THINK MATTERS.

Introduction of the Message Text

Your reality is not just what you say it is, it is what you think it is says Jesus in Mark 11 vss 17a and 22b – 26.

17a and he taught saying unto them, “Is it not written, MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED BY ALL NATIONS THE HOUSE OF PRAYER?

22b Have faith in God.

23 Truly, I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass it will be done for you. (Our ADD at all ages and stages prevent focus on this powerful revelation).

24 So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, (NOW, already) and it will be yours.  How the successful person acts in the role or goal we desire, we must manage our behavior and live as if our achievement is already a fact.  Those of us who have completed published works saw ourselves with completed published works as published authors long before accomplishment.  We saw our degrees before we earned them.  We write our scripts before we act them out and realize their achievement all the while living as if we already have them.  WHAT YOU THINK MATTERS.

The Jesus Addendum

Incidentally and parenthetically, Oh and by the way one more thing

25 and 26 “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that God in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

A bit of information on the text, vs 22 b, Oxford Research Notes on some ancient authorities believe the original languages did not just say ‘have faith.  Their comment suggests a better understanding would be to say, ‘if you have.’ 

We have what appears to be Jesus teaching with direction.  The subject of this sentence that is unseen but understood is the pronoun “YOU” to each individual and to the group.  He was speaking directly to those gathered around him.

Down south, the text might have easily had unspoken pronoun represented by, “YA’LL.”  There is also the unspoken but clearly established “WHEN” of the implication of the teaching.  The “WHEN” is “NOW” “RIGHT NOW!”

Right now if you have faith in God, nothing can stand in your way.  Today, we must face the question.  Since, I am a Christian, why do I, why do we seem to face so many mountains and why do we perceive so many things in our way?

Henry Ford, the Founder of the Ford Motor Company said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right.”

What we say and what we do reveals what we really think of ourselves.  Hard luck feel sorry for me stories conform to one of the first laws revealed in Genesis.  Every seed reproduces fruit after its own kind, Genesis 1 vs 11.  Keep planting hard luck feel sorry for me stories out your mouth from your seeded thoughts and they have no choice but to come to full harvest. Ultimately, what you know means nothing.  What you think means everything.  WHAT YOU THINK MATTERS.

Dark Nights of My Soul, St. John of the Cross

In my own experience, I have known some dark nights of the soul.  Depression is the clinical identifier of this demon.  Depression can express itself as outwardly aggressive and hostile anger or it can manifest internally into an experience of sadness that feels like sinking in quicksand at midnight.  I don’t know if you have had moments like this.  Whatever way you turn to help yourself get free, you feel like you are sinking deeper and deeper into a darkness that might hold you in a sad forever. 

Once Bonnie noted this was taking place in me.  One afternoon, she had come home from work and found me on the couch in our first house.  She looked at me and said with all the brave and tough love she could muster, “You have to get up from there and do something.”  Her heart and the passionate intensity of her voice had touched me where I hurt and felt sorry for myself and called me back to life.

The conflict in this testimony is that I am the one God has used to draw many out of their dark nights.  Many across the world (women and men) have acknowledged me as their rescuer from their conditions of emotional hell, an invulnerable knight in shining armor superman all the while without knowing I too am not immune.

15 years later and living in Phoenix, my daughter Micha became my next champion.  I had fallen into a funk.  I had called her to tell her my latest sad luck story of how bad it was when she abruptly stopped me mid – sentence.  She said without hesitation, “Dad, how much more of that do you want?” Like Bonnie years earlier, her heart and the passionate intensity of her voice had touched me where I hurt and felt sorry for myself and called me back to life.

Like others of you here, my children and my friends, I have laid on your couches to tell you sad stories of my perceptual engagement of life and your voices and loving hearts like Bonnie’s and Micha’s touched me where I hurt and felt sorry for myself and called me back to life.

Can you hear this song right and feel my experience and maybe occasionally yours?  I was sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, but the Master of the Seas heard my despairing cry, from the waters lifted me, now safe am I.  Love lifted me.  Love lifted me.  When nothing else could help, Love lifted me. WHAT YOU THINK MATTERS.

The Question

Proverbs 23 vs 7 says, “As we think of ourselves in our hearts, so are we.” 

When we discover that it is our thinking that forms what happens in our lives, what should our immediate course of action be?  When the 49ers, not the football team, were chasing gold mid – nineteenth century in California, they immediately went where news of gold strikes sounded.  Where is your our gold to be found?

Acres of Diamonds, writing and speech made famous by Russell Cromwell, earned enough money to found Temple University.  He delivered the speech 5000 times after writing it in the last decade of the 19^th Century.    In the speech, he told the story of a man searching for diamonds.  He sold everything he possessed, lands and all to search for them. 

The man who bought his land was walking it one day when he kicked a big rock.  Curious about the stone, he had it examined and processed leading to the discovery of the world’s largest diamond.  The man who had sold him the property who left in search of diamonds had owned what would become the world’s largest diamond mine.   Where are your our diamonds to be found and what opportunity are you missing right where you are? WHAT YOU THINK MATTERS.

Jesus’ Answer

According to the proclamation of Jesus, our gold and our diamonds begin with what we believe and think about ourselves. As we think of ourselves, so are we.  If we think we are losers, we are right.  If we think we are winners, we are right.  If we think of ourselves as victims of a mean society because we are black and male, we will find a way to prove we are right.  If we think of ourselves as victims of any form of abuse, we will find a way to prove we are right. 

If on the other hand, we have the clever audacity to exercise the privilege of human intellect to believe what Jesus has revealed to us, we can have what we say we want.  Listen to the words of Jesus from Matthew 19 vs 26, “With men on their own functioning only from the limits of their fear based awareness, this is impossible; but with God, men and women unafraid to live by faith, discover all things are possible.

My friend, the late Dr. Robert Letcher taught all who worshipped at the Christ Center Church in Ashland, Kentucky, “Faith never rises above the level of confession.”  Confession is affirmation with Jesus clothes on.

The regular and continuous confession of the man and woman of Christ Centered Faith might regularly confess what God told Moses: I am that I am.

I am a living soul transformer because my mind is renewed and energized with thoughts that build me up.

I am a victorious winner always striving for the positive, the excellent.

I am a soul inspired by prayer, meditation, and study to do great things in Jesus’ name.

I am a loved son of the most high God and a man after God’s own heart.

I am the voice that speaks into existence what I want to show up in my life.

I am a healthy spirit, soul and body and an agent of healing to others.

I am love that cares empowered by the intelligence that comes from God.

Conclusion:  Right now, YA’LL, IF you have faith in God, nothing can stand in your way to keep you from accomplishing your goals.  The sho nuff true truth is that the only power that can stop you from succeeding is you.  When what you think is right, what you believe is right.  When what you believe is right, what you affirm to God, yourself and others on a regular basis is right.  Not even a mountain called impossible can stop you because nothing is impossible for God and nothing is impossible if you have faith in God.  Nothing is impossible with God and nothing is impossible if you have faith in God. WHAT YOU THINK MATTERS.

Step Three - 12 Spiritual Principles to Recovery to Relationship with God, Self, and Others

Step Three:  Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the will of God as we understood God.

In Step 1, we recognized we were powerless over our self-destructive behavior and that our lives had become unmanageable. 

In Step 2, we came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.  We cried out for help.  

In Step 3, we make the intentional conscious choice because we have made an extreme mess of our lives to turn our willful intention to God as we believe in God to save our lives and mind, restore us to sanity.

The 12 Spiritual Principles humble those of us who self – destructive behavior has taken us down to our lowest level.  Here we acknowledged, we have not only not made quality choices for our lives, we need and desire the influence and leadership of God to re – orient us to right living, loving and productivity.

When we visited the disrespectful son of Luke 15 in Step 2, in Step 3, we examine his return more closely.  From information observed, we discover an approach regarded the last thing to nothing left to lose.  We have cried out for help in Step 2 and now in Step 3 look to the Creator of the Universe to save us from our self – destructive history and ourselves.

We note the disrespectful son from the end of his self – destructive run saying to himself that his father’s workers have it better than him.  He will return home and submit himself to his father’s service.

When you have discovered yourself at the bottom of your self – destructive behavior with nowhere else to go but the grave, where did your thoughts seek help?  Did you keep trying to fix yourself without success, or were you so desperate you were willing to call out to God to save you from yourself.

Even Jesus had to submit himself to the will of God when his way would have avoided the pain, suffering and humiliation of the cross.  Learn how to save ourselves, turn your lives around and, do Step 3 of the 12 Spiritual Principles to Recovery to relationship with God, self and others when you join me this week from theTeaching Ministry of New Eden and Oscar Crawford Christian Media. 

Step Two: 12 Spiritual Principles to Recovery to Relationship with God, Self, and Others

Step Two:  We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Addicts who have hit bottom recognize they have two choices before them, life or death.  They can continue their current path and die.  Alternatively, they can choose to seek help to turn their lives around and live.

It is so easy to begin the slide down the slippery slope into addiction.  Drinking or getting high with friends is feel good fun.  Sex with strangers and multiple partners takes place without thought. 

This behavior continued over time is not the fun it was from the beginning.  Alcohol and drug use are the common denominator.  They are the primary objects of relationship with the user.  Alcohol, drugs and other self - destructive behavior become more important to users than the people they use and exploit.

The second step comes at the precise moment when addicts reach the end of their self – destructive run.  Addicts without access to their drug of choice or behavior of choice can become threatening. Physical and emotional health challenges threaten users’ lives.  

Former using companions depart seeking others to consume.  Most family and friends have gone tired of disrespect, emotional and sometimes the physical abuse of domestic violence.  Criminal behavior may have even prompted legal issues and incarceration. 

The second step leads victims to realize their need for help greater than themselves.  If they could turn things around or fix their conditions on their own, they would.  Because they cannot, they must seek a higher ordered help.  For many, this will be a cry out to God or the angels.  For others, it will be a call out to others with information and experience that can help.  The power greater than ourselves is regarded a higher power because it has the potential to not only rescue us but also restore us to sanity.

Three New Testament experiences reveal the opportunities for recovery available in Step 2.  The first two are in Mark Chapter Five.  The third is in Luke Chapter 15.

The first is of the Gadarene Demoniac, a man possessed of many demons.  His self – destructive behaviors had prompted his exile from his community and his family.

The second is of a woman identified as having a bleeding disorder for 12 years.  She had spent all her money on doctors.  None had provided any help of relief or healing.  Her condition established by her religious tradition and culture was one of ritual uncleanness.  They forbid her to attend social functions or be away from her home as long as the condition persisted.

The third is of a young man who aspires to leave the authority and rule of his father’s house with the money that would come to him after his father dies.  He left home to live life in the fast lane of wine, women, and song.   He did until he had totally spent his inheritance.  When he found himself broke and friendless, his pride surfaced facing he would have to find work to support himself.  He became desperate.  He took work among pigs, something totally prohibited by his culture and upbringing.

Observe how the conditions of internal bondage, healing faith and restoration prompt three to seek help.  Learn how each came to believe a power greater than themselves could restore them to sanity this week from the Teaching Ministry of New Eden and Oscar Crawford Christian Media.  Join me and discover how Step 2 leads to the Time to Cry for Help.

Holiday Acts of Benevolence - Show Some Sweet Christmas Love Just Because You Can

Benevolence is an act of kindness resulting from an attitude of respect and caring to do good without expecting anything from the person or persons you have directed your act of benevolence.  Benevolence is an attitude and temperament indicative of character and personality.

When was the last time someone acted benevolently toward you?  When was the last time you acted benevolently to another or others?

We are in the midst of our culture’s most benevolent time of year.  There are more acts of benevolent kindness from mid – November until the end of December than at any other time of year.

How might you make a difference planning some intentional acts of kindness you can do on your own, with your family, with your team at work, with your social organizations and networks or with your churches or communities of faith?  Acts of benevolence always begin with intention.

Make a difference visiting a children’s hospital, long-term care facility, or a childcare center with bags of homemade in sealed plastic bags.  Attach a Christmas Card.  Plan to do for a minimum of 20 – 25 people.

 

Alternatively, consider purchasing inexpensive holiday CD’s or movie classics.  Make them the gifts of benevolence.  Involve your heart in your gift preparation and gift giving. Your acts of benevolence will make an emotional difference in the lives of people you give gifts.  Gift giving is an act of benevolence.

Take your intention to the next level.  Make your acts of benevolence more personal.  Identify an individual or a family.  Take time to plan the most effective way to make a real difference in the lives of individuals or families your acts of benevolence will bless.  Ask them what would be most helpful to them and go for it.

Acts of benevolence makes a positive emotional difference in the lives of givers and receivers.   If you are not careful, you just may find yourself making some new friends and building some new relationships.  When benevolence develops friendships, fellowships, and relationships, benevolence has accomplished her best work.

12 Spiritual Principles to Recovery to Relationship with God, Self, and Others

Self – destructive behaviors destroy men, women, children, relationships, jobs, hopes and dreams.  In the hit tune Crack Killed Apple Jack, a star football player Apple Jack Lewis becomes addicted to crack cocaine.  He became slave to the drug so much he began to sell use of his body for sex to pay for his habit until it killed him.  He died young on the side of the road dressed in drag.  His last words were, “I am Apple Jack Lewis, I want to go home.”

The 12 Step Program of Alcoholics Anonymous created by men who suffered the self - destructive effects of alcoholism has saved the lives of men and women all over the Earth.  Program creators reached the point in their lives where they realized their relationship to alcohol was killing them and their relationships.  They sought a path to personal recovery that would work for them and others caught up in the addiction and disease of alcoholism. The 12 Step Approach has proven effective in the treatment of drug, gambling, sexual, over eating, and other addictions.

Step 1 of the 12 Steps says, “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, sex, food, drugs, gambling, anger, and other self –destructive behavior), [sin] and that our lives had become unmanageable.”   Powerlessness and unmanageability are the standout character defects addressed in Step 1.

Persons affected by alcohol addiction have no power when it comes to drinking.  They must drink and have no control over their subsequent unmanageable behavior.  Addicted men and women spend their thoughts, money, and time on drinking.

Irresponsible behavior follows.  Driving under the influence citations prompts the loss of driving privileges.  Accidents while driving drunk cause loss of life.   Engaging in risky sexual behavior unprotected is common.  Families suffer drunken domestic violence.  Job performance precipitates loss of work and income.  The downward spiral only ends when there is nothing left to lose and sufferers hit bottom.

Hitting bottom is a wake-up call.  This is the moment dramatic changes in behavior must take place to survive as an individual to salvage person and relationships.  The desire to live to restore personal life and relationships becomes priority number one.  This is the moment sufferers seek help.

The biblical text that most speaks to the condition of powerlessness and unmanageability is written by the Apostolic Emissary Paul in Romans Chapter 7 vss 19 and 24a.  He speaks of the condition of being human as one of powerlessness and unmanageability when he says, “For the good that I would do, I do not do it: but the evil which I am confident that I would never do, I find myself doing. O what a wretched man, I am.  I am no good. Who shall deliver me from this living death?

Explore more Step 1 on this week’s edition of the Teaching Ministry of New Eden YouTube Channel.  Learn how to apply Step 1 to begin recovery to relationship with God, self and others.  This will bless you and others you share the ministry of love.

Blessings in Jesus’ Name,

Oscar