In these days it is important that we become a prepared people. In my study of the Book of the Revelation of Jesus, I have notice some things we have not seen. So many people have majored on the negative. I have seen much positive in the book concerning God's people and His protection of them and His mission for them during the time of trouble.
To me, it is clear that it is the purpose to bring down the kingdoms of this world. In order to do that, He wants to prepare a people who will be able to be good stewards of His power and Kingdom. The trials of life and our stewardship of their impact on our lives, whether we take the preciousness out of them, qualify us for the stewardship in the next age.
In every trial, no matter how difficult it seems, there is positive to be gained. If we go through the trial and gain the positive/precious, it is our treasure to either keep or invest in the Body of Christ. I wish I had time to expand on this but a blog is too short to do that.
God wants us to obtain that treasure in our spirit, soul and natural man.
Question to consider.
What are you looking for as you go through the trial? Can you find the positive/treasure?
Dr. Bill
Showing posts with label soul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soul. Show all posts
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Soul Man
In the days we live in God is dealing with our soul man. Yes, He is also dealing with our spirit, but most men and women live in their soul, their will, mind, and emotions.
The heart of man is defined in scripture as the mind and emotions. God's heart is that these two might be in balance. In most of us, one or the other rules us most of the time. There are those who feel the emotions are evil and that we should try to eradicate them. This is imbalance.
There are others who are ruled fully by how they "feel", their emotions. This is also imbalanced.
It came to me the other day that we do not truly know balance. Man was balanced before he fell. When he fell, he lost his balance and understanding of it. Only God can teach us what balance is. If we will depend on the Spirit of God, He can bring us back to balance. It takes a revelation from on high to know true balance.
The will, in a sense, is the arbitrator of decision. There are times when the mind prevails. At other times the emotions short circuit the process and over-rides the rational of the mind causing the decision to be made with only emotional imput. Again, this causes an imbalanced decision.
Dr. Colman of Harvard University, some years ago wrote a book called "Emotional Intelligence". In it he talks about the emotions ability to override the decision making process. It undergirds something I felt God say before the book came out. It had to do with the effect of a wounded spirit on our decision making process. Often that emotional override comes out of an unhealed wound in either the soul or the spirit.
We will be making comment on this in later writings, but, for now it is important to at least expose us to the teaching on the wounded soul. Our soul can be wounded through childhood events in which there has been abandonment by parents, friends, or vital influencial relationships in our lives.
These wounds, if not dealt with and healed, become infected with rejection, abandonment, and possibly even bitterness. In intense situations, these emotional infections can override all rational and cause us to make wrong decisions based on the emotional infection, rather than the real facts of the situation.
How do I know when that happens? I know when this may be a factor is, when my reaction is far greater than the situation.
Question for pondering: Can I think of any time that this could have been the case in my life?
Dr. Bill
The heart of man is defined in scripture as the mind and emotions. God's heart is that these two might be in balance. In most of us, one or the other rules us most of the time. There are those who feel the emotions are evil and that we should try to eradicate them. This is imbalance.
There are others who are ruled fully by how they "feel", their emotions. This is also imbalanced.
It came to me the other day that we do not truly know balance. Man was balanced before he fell. When he fell, he lost his balance and understanding of it. Only God can teach us what balance is. If we will depend on the Spirit of God, He can bring us back to balance. It takes a revelation from on high to know true balance.
The will, in a sense, is the arbitrator of decision. There are times when the mind prevails. At other times the emotions short circuit the process and over-rides the rational of the mind causing the decision to be made with only emotional imput. Again, this causes an imbalanced decision.
Dr. Colman of Harvard University, some years ago wrote a book called "Emotional Intelligence". In it he talks about the emotions ability to override the decision making process. It undergirds something I felt God say before the book came out. It had to do with the effect of a wounded spirit on our decision making process. Often that emotional override comes out of an unhealed wound in either the soul or the spirit.
We will be making comment on this in later writings, but, for now it is important to at least expose us to the teaching on the wounded soul. Our soul can be wounded through childhood events in which there has been abandonment by parents, friends, or vital influencial relationships in our lives.
These wounds, if not dealt with and healed, become infected with rejection, abandonment, and possibly even bitterness. In intense situations, these emotional infections can override all rational and cause us to make wrong decisions based on the emotional infection, rather than the real facts of the situation.
How do I know when that happens? I know when this may be a factor is, when my reaction is far greater than the situation.
Question for pondering: Can I think of any time that this could have been the case in my life?
Dr. Bill
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Coming Back to Center
In coming back to center, we need to realize that man is not quite sure what center is. If we think of center then our mind immediately goes to the thought of some type of concept of extremes, because there can be no center if there is no knowledge of right and wrong, left as opposed to right and so on.
This concept carries over into our emotions, our thinking, and even our actions. It is not hard for people to conceive of emotional extremes. If we are honest, we can most likely remember when our reaction to some situation was extreme in its expression, or there was no reaction at all. Both of those are extremes, yet, in our thinking most of us do not consider this concept.
When man disobeyed God, in the beginning, his life, emotions, and thinking lost their true concept of center. Instead of God being center, man became center. This is an important concept to understand. We see it is politics all the time. Each senator, or congressman tries to get the best for his or her community. That in itself is understandable, yet one can only question the motivation, when we analyze the actions. Is he/she really doing it for the best of the community, or so they will get re-elected. Even our churches have become political and the poor pastors have to worry about their position, because often their position depends on popularity with the members rather than the approbation of God. They may be called of God to minister in that place, but the time of tenure, and the validity of their place is subject to the pleasure of the people. Because of this, they cannot really be true ministry who impart Life and deliver the Word of the Lord, because of fear of the people. God is about to change this.
The new center will be, What has God said.
Dr Bill
This concept carries over into our emotions, our thinking, and even our actions. It is not hard for people to conceive of emotional extremes. If we are honest, we can most likely remember when our reaction to some situation was extreme in its expression, or there was no reaction at all. Both of those are extremes, yet, in our thinking most of us do not consider this concept.
When man disobeyed God, in the beginning, his life, emotions, and thinking lost their true concept of center. Instead of God being center, man became center. This is an important concept to understand. We see it is politics all the time. Each senator, or congressman tries to get the best for his or her community. That in itself is understandable, yet one can only question the motivation, when we analyze the actions. Is he/she really doing it for the best of the community, or so they will get re-elected. Even our churches have become political and the poor pastors have to worry about their position, because often their position depends on popularity with the members rather than the approbation of God. They may be called of God to minister in that place, but the time of tenure, and the validity of their place is subject to the pleasure of the people. Because of this, they cannot really be true ministry who impart Life and deliver the Word of the Lord, because of fear of the people. God is about to change this.
The new center will be, What has God said.
Dr Bill
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Thursday, May 31, 2007
A Pause for news
This is just a short comment on the struggles of the soul.
I have been working on the 51 college level courses that I have written, updating them, summarizing them, outlining them, and making sure each has a syllabus. I have also been arranging all of them getting them ready to update the College Catalogue. That on top of having to type some of the syllabus back in because I cannot find the digital copy, has amounted to several weeks of work. The backlog is almost done and the few I have yet to write syllabus for are awaiting my attention.
I have to update two or three of the courses and fully write at least one yet, so there is much work to do. All of this is not just a drain on the mind, but also on the soul which grows weary with study. If it were not for the spirit of revelation that comes during the study I would tire much quicker.
All these things are necessary in preparation for a school that will be academically sound as well as spiritually viable. It is often today, that one or the other suffers because of an over emphasis on either of these two that need to be in balance.
Continue to pray for me as I press forward. I am trusting God to open doors for seminars and guest teaching times as well.
Well I will go for now, thank you for visiting the blog and more teaching will be coming later.
Dr. Bill
I have been working on the 51 college level courses that I have written, updating them, summarizing them, outlining them, and making sure each has a syllabus. I have also been arranging all of them getting them ready to update the College Catalogue. That on top of having to type some of the syllabus back in because I cannot find the digital copy, has amounted to several weeks of work. The backlog is almost done and the few I have yet to write syllabus for are awaiting my attention.
I have to update two or three of the courses and fully write at least one yet, so there is much work to do. All of this is not just a drain on the mind, but also on the soul which grows weary with study. If it were not for the spirit of revelation that comes during the study I would tire much quicker.
All these things are necessary in preparation for a school that will be academically sound as well as spiritually viable. It is often today, that one or the other suffers because of an over emphasis on either of these two that need to be in balance.
Continue to pray for me as I press forward. I am trusting God to open doors for seminars and guest teaching times as well.
Well I will go for now, thank you for visiting the blog and more teaching will be coming later.
Dr. Bill
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
The Trials of Life
As we journey through life there are things that happen that cause us to pause and reflect. There are times when we wonder if we are even headed in the right direction as it seems all circumstances, at that moment, are arrayed against what we are trying to do. It is during these times that we are being tested as to our attitudes.
One of the things I have discovered is that, when something happens, the test is on both the one going through it, and those responding to what they observe in the life of the one being tried. We see this in the life of Job, the example of extreme trial. The perceptions of the three friends were being tested, as well as Job. Job's loyalty to God and His purpose was tested by the stripping of all he had, including his family. His wife's attitude was tested.
The theology of the three friends was exposed. The limitation of their revelation of God and their experience of him was manifest. The three friends did not realize they were being tested. Like many today they were distracted by the trial of others. How they judged Job, manifest what was in their hearts, and caused God to tell them they needed to repent.
So it is with us today, how we react to the trials and actions of others manifests what is truly in our hearts. It is important that we look to our reactions to the trials of others and look to our own hearts.
One of the things I have discovered is that, when something happens, the test is on both the one going through it, and those responding to what they observe in the life of the one being tried. We see this in the life of Job, the example of extreme trial. The perceptions of the three friends were being tested, as well as Job. Job's loyalty to God and His purpose was tested by the stripping of all he had, including his family. His wife's attitude was tested.
The theology of the three friends was exposed. The limitation of their revelation of God and their experience of him was manifest. The three friends did not realize they were being tested. Like many today they were distracted by the trial of others. How they judged Job, manifest what was in their hearts, and caused God to tell them they needed to repent.
So it is with us today, how we react to the trials and actions of others manifests what is truly in our hearts. It is important that we look to our reactions to the trials of others and look to our own hearts.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Emotions Can You Trust Them
In our former blogs we have commented on other areas of the human character and nature. It would not be right not to comment on the emotions of man.
In my over 40 years of ministry, I have met all kinds of teachers, preachers, and ministry that speak of the condition of the emotions. There are those who feel they are straight from hell and they are a detriment to who we are and what we do. There are those who allow the emotions to lead them in everything consequently they do some confusing things and leave us puzzled as we observe their lives.
It is important that we realize that the emotions were given us by God. When He placed them within us, He called the whole package good. Man obviously, if he was a good product, declared so by God, came with an emotional component. This would point to the fact that God too has an emotional component. In the original man, before the fall, the emotions were balanced by logic and reason.
Dr. James Dobson wrote a book, and I agree with the question. It was entitled: "Emotions, Can You Trust Them?". I would hope your answer to that question would be know. Sometimes emotions are bang on, sometimes they are out to lunch without a sandwich.
Because this is a blog to make us think, I want to pose a question, until my next blog.
In making a decision, how do I weigh the emotional component, so my decision is balanced?
Dr. Bill
In my over 40 years of ministry, I have met all kinds of teachers, preachers, and ministry that speak of the condition of the emotions. There are those who feel they are straight from hell and they are a detriment to who we are and what we do. There are those who allow the emotions to lead them in everything consequently they do some confusing things and leave us puzzled as we observe their lives.
It is important that we realize that the emotions were given us by God. When He placed them within us, He called the whole package good. Man obviously, if he was a good product, declared so by God, came with an emotional component. This would point to the fact that God too has an emotional component. In the original man, before the fall, the emotions were balanced by logic and reason.
Dr. James Dobson wrote a book, and I agree with the question. It was entitled: "Emotions, Can You Trust Them?". I would hope your answer to that question would be know. Sometimes emotions are bang on, sometimes they are out to lunch without a sandwich.
Because this is a blog to make us think, I want to pose a question, until my next blog.
In making a decision, how do I weigh the emotional component, so my decision is balanced?
Dr. Bill
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Expressions of the Will
We are living in a day when we often let others make decisions for us. Another way decisions are made is allowing situations to play out without making a conscience decision. In doing this we make decisions by default. Without making a conscience decision we make a decision to let the situation or circumstance control what decision is made. There are some who have let almost all of their decisions be made this way, consequently they are not satisfied with their lives and have no one to blame but themselves.
It is better to make mistakes and make wrong decisions, than to allow circumstances and situations control us. If we "take decision" as my French brethren say, there is a sense in which God can speak and correct your vision and expression. If you do not "take decision", it is possible to have a habit pattern develop that will control your life, if the pattern is allowed to continue long enough.
If I set a pattern of making decisions, then I can take control of my life and be adjusted in the expression of the vision for my life.
The rhetorical question posed:
How are my decisions made and is there any changes I need to make in how I make them?
Dr. Bill
It is better to make mistakes and make wrong decisions, than to allow circumstances and situations control us. If we "take decision" as my French brethren say, there is a sense in which God can speak and correct your vision and expression. If you do not "take decision", it is possible to have a habit pattern develop that will control your life, if the pattern is allowed to continue long enough.
If I set a pattern of making decisions, then I can take control of my life and be adjusted in the expression of the vision for my life.
The rhetorical question posed:
How are my decisions made and is there any changes I need to make in how I make them?
Dr. Bill
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Expanding the Christian Mind
Ravi Zachariah has a radio program the title of which should challenge the Christian today. "Let My People Think". In our last posting we talked of the power in the soul of man, and how, because of the fall, because of fear, and because of laziness, man does not think today. Contributing to this are a number of factors.
The mind properly balanced by the rest of the soul, and guided by the spirit/Spirit, had the ability, and the mandate to study the depth of all things.
The true study of science, without prejudice, will lead to truth, from whatever avenue you approach it. One of the problems in the earth today is that men and women are willing to do the hard work that this type of research requires.
It is important that we get back to that type of study that expands the mind and comes to things without preconceived ideas and theories.
Our rhetorical question for today is posed as follows:
Am I willing to work hard enough at laying aside my prejudice and preconceived ideas, to discover the truth?
- The Media, not only reports the news but most often subtly tells us how we should think about it.
- Preaching is often informative, but not challenging.
- School today more tell students what to think than train them in reason and logic. That is why professors are afraid of the teaching of creation in schools. They are afraid the student will choose to believe with faith, in creation, instead of have faith in evolution. Personally, it takes more faith to believe in evolution, than that there was a God who created all things.
- Men and women are afraid to challenge the "normal beliefs" of society with honest research. Man's need to have an immediate answer is causing him to get much exercise at jumping to conclusions without vital proof.
- There are more reasons but these cover a significant amount of the major areas of the herd mentality.
The mind properly balanced by the rest of the soul, and guided by the spirit/Spirit, had the ability, and the mandate to study the depth of all things.
The true study of science, without prejudice, will lead to truth, from whatever avenue you approach it. One of the problems in the earth today is that men and women are willing to do the hard work that this type of research requires.
It is important that we get back to that type of study that expands the mind and comes to things without preconceived ideas and theories.
Our rhetorical question for today is posed as follows:
Am I willing to work hard enough at laying aside my prejudice and preconceived ideas, to discover the truth?
Saturday, April 14, 2007
The power of the soul
In our last posting we began comment on the makeup of the soul.
In the beginning at the creation of man, there was a tremendous statement made. Adam named all the plants, animals, and all of creation in the power of the soul. When we stop to think of this, it includes an awesome extension of the mind of man. Today we have men and women who specialize in different area's of science and we find it difficult for one mind to contain the whole knowledge of that one field. Yet, it says that Adam's mind held the knowledge of the whole. This in itself is mind boggling.
It is said that Albert Einstein said he only used about 14% of his mind. Adam used 100% of his. Some of us are not sure how much we use, but would never assume that we used as much as Einstein.
Jesus came that He might renew our mind and develop it. If we use so little of our minds, then what would happen if we were to find the key to the development of the rest of it?
God is not afraid or challenged by thinkers. He, the source of all knowledge, desires men and women to be thinkers. Often ministers have almost discouraged thinking or questions from the congregation. It is time we challenged people to think and exercise the unused areas of there mind and thinking.
???? What areas have I grown lazy in my thinking????
In the beginning at the creation of man, there was a tremendous statement made. Adam named all the plants, animals, and all of creation in the power of the soul. When we stop to think of this, it includes an awesome extension of the mind of man. Today we have men and women who specialize in different area's of science and we find it difficult for one mind to contain the whole knowledge of that one field. Yet, it says that Adam's mind held the knowledge of the whole. This in itself is mind boggling.
It is said that Albert Einstein said he only used about 14% of his mind. Adam used 100% of his. Some of us are not sure how much we use, but would never assume that we used as much as Einstein.
Jesus came that He might renew our mind and develop it. If we use so little of our minds, then what would happen if we were to find the key to the development of the rest of it?
God is not afraid or challenged by thinkers. He, the source of all knowledge, desires men and women to be thinkers. Often ministers have almost discouraged thinking or questions from the congregation. It is time we challenged people to think and exercise the unused areas of there mind and thinking.
???? What areas have I grown lazy in my thinking????
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
What is the soul?
As simple as it may seem it is important to remember that the sould of man is made up of 3 parts as well. They are the will, the mind, and the emotions of man.
In the mind of man rests his intellect which usually rules through logic and reason.
In the emotions, which can be volatile, there resides unexplored power to affect and even derail logic and reason. There are psychiatrists who state that there are two minds in man. There is a logical mind and there is an emotional mind. The emotional mind, according to them, is almost fully formed at birth. There are times when in situations, when triggered, it overrides the logical mind. In a book talking about the emotional quotient of man, Dr. Dale Coldman makes a strong case for this point.
Then there is the will of man. Scripture calls the heart of man a combination of the the mind and emotions. The will is that which makes the decisions. In caring for the soul of man, one must understand the inter working of these three components. The difference between the soul and the spirit must be understood, or great damage can be done.
So let me pose this question to be considered until the next posting.
How can you tell the difference between soul and spirit problems?
Dr. Bill
In the mind of man rests his intellect which usually rules through logic and reason.
In the emotions, which can be volatile, there resides unexplored power to affect and even derail logic and reason. There are psychiatrists who state that there are two minds in man. There is a logical mind and there is an emotional mind. The emotional mind, according to them, is almost fully formed at birth. There are times when in situations, when triggered, it overrides the logical mind. In a book talking about the emotional quotient of man, Dr. Dale Coldman makes a strong case for this point.
Then there is the will of man. Scripture calls the heart of man a combination of the the mind and emotions. The will is that which makes the decisions. In caring for the soul of man, one must understand the inter working of these three components. The difference between the soul and the spirit must be understood, or great damage can be done.
So let me pose this question to be considered until the next posting.
How can you tell the difference between soul and spirit problems?
Dr. Bill
In our observation of humanity it seems it is difficult for man to think about the spirit portion of himself, as it is invisible. The demands of the soul and the body, because they seemingly make their demands more obvious, are fed more often, causing them to at least be able to subsist, if not flourish. We are entering a time when all that man has been able to do cannot silence the cry of his spirit. More and more people are becoming dissatisfied with the status quo of their life and embarking on a search.
Where are you looking as you search for satisfaction?
Where are you looking as you search for satisfaction?
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Introduction
I am just new at this, and would like to use it to stirr up pure minds with inovative opinions and views concerning the human condition and need. I understand that this may stirr some folk but would suggest that many are just floating along the river of life without understanding what is happening. We may well get in some intense discussions over the next little while. To get us thinking is my object and if I do that my purpose is accomplished.
I want to start with basic definition of man as a tri-part being composed of spirit, soul, and body. The order listed should be the order of importance. Because in many lives it is not, many problems arise because men and women feed one portion of them more than another.
Comments please
I want to start with basic definition of man as a tri-part being composed of spirit, soul, and body. The order listed should be the order of importance. Because in many lives it is not, many problems arise because men and women feed one portion of them more than another.
Comments please
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)