The story has been told, whether true or not, I'm not certain (I can't seem to find the source of this story but that doesn't take away from its impact), that a behavioral experiment was performed using a live Barracuda in a glass tank.
One of the favorite foods of Barracudas (known for being voracious predators) are Anchovies. And the big, mean behavioral scientists conducting this experiment designed the tank with a removable glass partition so that the Barracuda was on one side of the tank, and a small school of Anchovies were on the other.
Spotting the Anchovies, the Barracuda would move in for a hearty treat, only to bump its nose against an invisible barrier. Try as it could, it would only wind up with a sore proboscis when it tried to score a tasty snack.
After numerous attempts, the Barracuda quit trying to snag its prey.
Then, the big mean scientists decided to add insult to injury by removing the glass partition from between the Barracuda and the Anchovies. Having learned its impotence in being able to score an easy meal, the Barracuda would placidly swim past the Anchovies without so much as a meager attempt to score a mouthful. The Barracuda had been tricked out of its natural instinct by being deliberately thwarted over and over.
Often, humans are no different than this hapless fish. We get the message when we attempt to reach a particular goal and continue to be foiled. We give up trying. We start to build a shell around ourselves and begin to insulate ourselves from even the thought of achieving, in many instances.
It is in our human weakness that we collide with unattainable prospects. This was not intended from the beginning. God designed us to be princes and kings, but sin waylaid us and presented us with difficulties so insurmountable that many folks are paralyzed at the prospect of even making an attempt to conquer them.
When I discover myself in times of doubt, fear and uncertainty, I find the following passages to be of great comfort...
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 - NIV).
"Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (John 19:26 - NIV)
From these passages, I glean that there is Someone bigger than my problems, standing and facing them with me. At the place where I end, God begins.
What frustrations have you faced in your life that make you feel unable to cope? What goals have you failed to meet that should be within your reach? God cares about your plight. Renew your covenant with Him today through Christ if you have found yourself in a place of barrenness and obstruction. Let God help you break through the formidable barriers in your life.
Mark Joneschiet Music
Showing posts with label fear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fear. Show all posts
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Oh, My Papa - Part 5
So, if you're a Christian, how close are you to God?
From the little I've studied about Freud, he believed we develop our impression of God from our fathers. To some degree, I believe this. I think there's some credence to the idea that male figures in our lives make an impression on us about who God is.
Was your father strong, loving and wise? If what I said above is true, you are very fortunate. Was he wimpy and whiny? Or was he domineering and overbearing? Abusive? Withdrawing? Fearful? Namby-pamby? So-so? Jealous? Funny? Ridiculous? Brawny? Jovial? Brash? Devil-may-care? Brave? Silly? Angry? Gentle? Creative? Artistic? Handy? Practical? Quiet? Loud?
Whatever impression we have of our earthly dads, we need to be careful not to limit our understanding of God to either their strengths or weaknesses.
As much as we might admire our earthly fathers, God is greater still! As much as we might fear or loathe their behavior, God is perfect and not given to earthly faults or flaws.
Some men are fearful of God. Others are unimpressed. Still others are in awe.
How many of you know that there are feminine images of God in the Bible as well? The Bible describes God as 'laboring in childbirth,' and 'brooding as a mother hen over her chicks.' How do you feel about that? Is it awkward or does it comfort you to know that God describes Himself with those qualities?
What are your thoughts about God? I'd love to hear what you have to say... even from the ladies who visit here.
Please feel free to share your thoughts below.
From the little I've studied about Freud, he believed we develop our impression of God from our fathers. To some degree, I believe this. I think there's some credence to the idea that male figures in our lives make an impression on us about who God is.
Was your father strong, loving and wise? If what I said above is true, you are very fortunate. Was he wimpy and whiny? Or was he domineering and overbearing? Abusive? Withdrawing? Fearful? Namby-pamby? So-so? Jealous? Funny? Ridiculous? Brawny? Jovial? Brash? Devil-may-care? Brave? Silly? Angry? Gentle? Creative? Artistic? Handy? Practical? Quiet? Loud?
Whatever impression we have of our earthly dads, we need to be careful not to limit our understanding of God to either their strengths or weaknesses.
As much as we might admire our earthly fathers, God is greater still! As much as we might fear or loathe their behavior, God is perfect and not given to earthly faults or flaws.
Some men are fearful of God. Others are unimpressed. Still others are in awe.
How many of you know that there are feminine images of God in the Bible as well? The Bible describes God as 'laboring in childbirth,' and 'brooding as a mother hen over her chicks.' How do you feel about that? Is it awkward or does it comfort you to know that God describes Himself with those qualities?
What are your thoughts about God? I'd love to hear what you have to say... even from the ladies who visit here.
Please feel free to share your thoughts below.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Possum Lodge Progress
Let's hear it, guys... all together... The Man's Prayer! You all know it if you've ever seen "The Red Green Show." "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess."
My previous post was about worth and value and where we derive it from. My answer was, THE place to start is, God values us... enough to send His precious Son to die for us.
You might be a person of great faith, or you may be someone who has never darkened the door of a church in your life. It makes no difference. We have all felt the pangs of the Possum Lodge Brothers agreeing that being a man is, in and of itself, a poor enough condition to feel bad about.
Why is that? Why do so many of us feel so miserable about ourselves?
For many of us, sadly, it's because we really have failed someone or even many people in our lives. We've let someone very close to us down. Our wife. Our son. Our daughter. Our parents. A girlfiend. A close friend.
In other ways, we may feel like we've never achieved what we set out to achieve. In still other ways, we may not deserve the guilt we feel at all, but feel it because we were raised (unfairly) to consider ourselves less than worthy of anyone's admiration or concern.
Whatever the reason, this is not a condition we need to remain in. There is a remedy for this painful state.
Gideon, a man in the Old Testament book of Judges was a man who most certainly didn't see himself as anyone great or powerful during a time of opression by a foreign enemy. He was confronted by an angel from God one day who said, "The Lord is with you, Mighty Warrior" (Judges 6:12).
Can you imagine how Gideon felt, hiding in a winepress, threshing grain because he was afraid his enemy would show up and steal the food he was trying to provide for his family?
Long story short... Gideon went from this sorrowful state to lead the army of Israel in routing their oppressors. He lived out the words of the angel who spoke of how God saw him.
However you see yourself today, please realize that God has the ability to see strengths in us that we could never see. Oh, that we would all be able to stand together someday and say the Lion's Lodge Pledge together... "I'm a man. I am made in God's image. I am a Victor! And I am SURE of it!"
My previous post was about worth and value and where we derive it from. My answer was, THE place to start is, God values us... enough to send His precious Son to die for us.
You might be a person of great faith, or you may be someone who has never darkened the door of a church in your life. It makes no difference. We have all felt the pangs of the Possum Lodge Brothers agreeing that being a man is, in and of itself, a poor enough condition to feel bad about.
Why is that? Why do so many of us feel so miserable about ourselves?
For many of us, sadly, it's because we really have failed someone or even many people in our lives. We've let someone very close to us down. Our wife. Our son. Our daughter. Our parents. A girlfiend. A close friend.
In other ways, we may feel like we've never achieved what we set out to achieve. In still other ways, we may not deserve the guilt we feel at all, but feel it because we were raised (unfairly) to consider ourselves less than worthy of anyone's admiration or concern.
Whatever the reason, this is not a condition we need to remain in. There is a remedy for this painful state.
Gideon, a man in the Old Testament book of Judges was a man who most certainly didn't see himself as anyone great or powerful during a time of opression by a foreign enemy. He was confronted by an angel from God one day who said, "The Lord is with you, Mighty Warrior" (Judges 6:12).
Can you imagine how Gideon felt, hiding in a winepress, threshing grain because he was afraid his enemy would show up and steal the food he was trying to provide for his family?
Long story short... Gideon went from this sorrowful state to lead the army of Israel in routing their oppressors. He lived out the words of the angel who spoke of how God saw him.
However you see yourself today, please realize that God has the ability to see strengths in us that we could never see. Oh, that we would all be able to stand together someday and say the Lion's Lodge Pledge together... "I'm a man. I am made in God's image. I am a Victor! And I am SURE of it!"
Monday, April 25, 2011
Guy Stuff
I have had this blog page up for some time and have never done anything with it. Today though, I got a wild hair (a.k.a. inspiration from God?) to begin sharing thoughts about being a man in the Kingdom of God.
For some time, I have thought about how it's lonely for men in the church world. There are all types of men's fellowships, breakfasts, conferences, etc. And men are heralded for attending these meetings because it's assumed that most men would would rather not deal with problems that are confrontive and intrusive into their world. So, they are applauded for venturing out, listening to spiritual teaching, and thinking about spiritual issues - and such.
I am not demeaning these avenues of help. And truthfully, I believe it's true in many cases that men have a hard time discussing and dealing with hard problems in their lives. However, in many instances, I think what's happening is that the wrong things are being offered to men. Many churches think that men have to be lured by motorcycles and hot cars. What I believe men are really looking for, for the most part, is a safe place to talk about the real concerns of their lives. The hard questions. The ones they can't talk to their wives about. The ones they can't talk to their pastor about. The shameful memories. The frightening enigmas. The painful wounds.
Awhile back, a book was written that scratched the surface fairly deep about many of these issues (I will not mention the name of the book). For me, however, this book didn't go deep enough. And so, here I am... talking about these problems to the world at large (if I am fortunate enough for this blog to ever have that kind of impact).
This is a scary venture, truthfully. It may requre being more transparent than I want to be. I'm not sure where it will go, but I sense that men need help out there. Help with the pain, the turmoil and the scars that are so prevalent in our culture today.
The fairer sex are welcome to come here too. You ladies may be puzzled about the man in your life. Perhaps you will be able to find some answers here as well.
It is my sincere hope that the words I am posting on this blog will bring hope and solace to some frightened and troubled souls. Perhaps mine as much as anyone's.
For some time, I have thought about how it's lonely for men in the church world. There are all types of men's fellowships, breakfasts, conferences, etc. And men are heralded for attending these meetings because it's assumed that most men would would rather not deal with problems that are confrontive and intrusive into their world. So, they are applauded for venturing out, listening to spiritual teaching, and thinking about spiritual issues - and such.
I am not demeaning these avenues of help. And truthfully, I believe it's true in many cases that men have a hard time discussing and dealing with hard problems in their lives. However, in many instances, I think what's happening is that the wrong things are being offered to men. Many churches think that men have to be lured by motorcycles and hot cars. What I believe men are really looking for, for the most part, is a safe place to talk about the real concerns of their lives. The hard questions. The ones they can't talk to their wives about. The ones they can't talk to their pastor about. The shameful memories. The frightening enigmas. The painful wounds.
Awhile back, a book was written that scratched the surface fairly deep about many of these issues (I will not mention the name of the book). For me, however, this book didn't go deep enough. And so, here I am... talking about these problems to the world at large (if I am fortunate enough for this blog to ever have that kind of impact).
This is a scary venture, truthfully. It may requre being more transparent than I want to be. I'm not sure where it will go, but I sense that men need help out there. Help with the pain, the turmoil and the scars that are so prevalent in our culture today.
The fairer sex are welcome to come here too. You ladies may be puzzled about the man in your life. Perhaps you will be able to find some answers here as well.
It is my sincere hope that the words I am posting on this blog will bring hope and solace to some frightened and troubled souls. Perhaps mine as much as anyone's.
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