I can be a sucker for a good deal. I actually found a book on Amazon.com for a penny (plus $2.00 for shipping of course) a few weeks ago with the above title and could not help myself. I had to buy it because the price was right. That's an unwritten law for men, you know. Besides, I thought it could be used as a ministry tool. Now mind you, "I" do not need such a book, but I am suspicious that some of my friends may. So I really bought it for them.
All kidding aside, society seeks to define men in ways that contradicts God's original design. Most men I know seem to want more in life and often demonstrate an unsettledness that either drives them forward in determination or deeper into despair. Would this be true to your experience or observations as well? What contrasts or contradictions do you see regarding where men are today compared to God's original design described in the Bible?
Also, what does it take to transform a man back to God's original design? Is it attainable, if so then what process is involved? Could the answer be a dog and mini van? Hummmmmm............. :-)
P.S. As a pastor I am sworn to secrecy. So men, if you want to read my book I won't tell anyone about your struggles. Remember, I bought it for you! :-)
I bet you are dieing to see a picture of a mini van tent, aren't you? Check this out!
NICE!
OK, one quote from my new book How to Feel Manly in a Mini Van for your enrichment. Author Craig Boreth writes, "I am reminded of a quote from the movie, The Man Who Wasn't There: When you are in the maze you go through it willy-nilly, turning where you think you have to turn, banging into the dead ends, one thing after another. But when you get some distance on it, and all of those twists and turns ... why, you find out they are the shape of your life."
Thanks for stopping by!
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Adrian
Now that's a tent everyone needs! Way cool!
ReplyDeleteOne contrast to Old Testament men is demonstrated in the grief process. These guys would tear their cloths and put ash on their heads and wail to demonstrate their anguish. Comparatively, the festivals of celebration would last a week or more with dancing, eating and drinking. These people embraced their emotions and let loose!
ReplyDeleteOur main goal today for men seems to have them; behave, be nice, be stoic, be exempt, be gentile, be soft, refined and above it all.
I think that our emotions are what make us the crowning achievement of creation; it is where our likeness to God is most relevant. It is where passion dwells.
What it takes to be transformed, restored or redeemed by God in any area of our life is willingness.
And your tent looks like an alien leech sucking on the butt of a helpless animal.
Your tent wont look that nice. This one is hooked up to a mans SUV not a girlsy van.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous and Monkey,
ReplyDeleteWay too funny! I bet both of you have been online looking for your own mini van tent today.
Common Monkey ...
All a man needs for transformation back to God's original design is willingness? You make me laugh. I can cite examples of men who have "willed it" but did not receive it and their failure was not due to spiritual laziness on their part. They worked it man! Yet came up short. Are you sure that "willingness" is all they need? Help me out here, I need to learn.
You wrote: “Also, what does it take to transform a man back to God's original design? Is it attainable, if so then what process is involved?”
ReplyDeleteSpecifically, transformation back to God’s original design would require reversal of what happened at the fall. This would be accomplished by an act of grace Jesus called sanctification.
John 17:18-20 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message”
Jesus is asking that believers be sanctified.
It is the curse imparted at the fall and its subsequent permeation through our lives that have distorted the original design (including our emotions). Just as our own Greg preached a couple weeks ago; Jesus, through obedience in the garden, came to fix what went wrong in the original garden. In context of our discussion, the prayer would be something like “Jesus accepting in faith that I am saved, sanctify me entirely, restoring the glory of my creation to that which was before the fall.” This would include emotions.
This takes willingness, an exercise of the will. No one can do it for you. Just as at salvation a person confesses with their mouth and believes with their heart that Jesus is Lord, to be transformed back to God’s original design takes an equal act of confession and belief (faith).
I think we stumble with this concept because we are so ‘in tune’ with our fallen state. Our brains have established patterns of thought that are comfortable. We’re taught that we can’t trust our hearts because we’re just sinners saved by grace. It’s easy to stay a creep in need of forgiveness. If there is a process involved it would be to learn to live in this restored state by faith and the willingness to establish new patterns of thought and behavior as God sees fit.
Once we are restored, God will make changes as he see’s fit, in his time. This too takes willingness, a willingness to grant him access to every aspect of our life and a willingness to submit even our emotions to His refining hand should He ask it of us.
Idiot.
ReplyDeleteBrevity is the soul of wit.
Salvation is selfishly attained.
The Life of Christ is selflessly received.
This isn't difficult, if God is willing.
Impossible if He isn't.
"The road to Life is narrow and few are those that find it."
Here is my devotional from today...
April 9, 2009
Have You Seen Jesus?
After that, He appeared in another form to two of them . . . —Mark 16:12
Being saved and seeing Jesus are not the same thing. Many people who have never seen Jesus have received and share in God’s grace. But once you have seen Him, you can never be the same. Other things will not have the appeal they did before.
You should always recognize the difference between what you see Jesus to be and what He has done for you. If you see only what He has done for you, your God is not big enough. But if you have had a vision, seeing Jesus as He really is, experiences can come and go, yet you will endure "as seeing Him who is invisible"
( Hebrews 11:27 ). The man who was blind from birth did not know who Jesus was until Christ appeared and revealed Himself to him (see John 9 ). Jesus appears to those for whom He has done something, but we cannot order or predict when He will come. He may appear suddenly, at any turn. Then you can exclaim, "Now I see Him!" (see John 9:25 ).
Jesus must appear to you and to your friend individually; no one can see Jesus with your eyes. And division takes place when one has seen Him and the other has not. You cannot bring your friend to the point of seeing; God must do it. Have you seen Jesus? If so, you will want others to see Him too. "And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either" ( Mark 16:13 ). When you see Him, you must tell, even if they don’t believe.
O could I tell, you surely would believe it!
O could I only say what I have seen!
How should I tell or how can you receive it,
How, till He bringeth you where I have been?
Oswald Chambers
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Carry on!