Sunday, June 28, 2015

Power from the foundation of our faith

This is a great time to explore the power behind the foundation of our faith.   Have you ever thought about how people became Christ followers the first 20-50 years after He arose then ascended to heaven?   40 days after Christ ascended to heaven, there were no new testament scriptures, no typewriter, no radio, no tv, no phone, no internet, no texting, no facebook, and no twitter.   Yet, several were martyred for the sake of belief in Christ and His resurrection.  In fact, it is believed that:

·         Thomas was killed with a spear.
 
·         Bartholemew was scourged and beheaded
 
·         James was beaten, stoned and clubbed to death,
 
·         Andrew was crucified and was bound to the cross instead of nailed,
 
·         Peter was crucified upside down

The bottom line was that these men knew a man who claimed he would die on the cross.  That man did die on the cross and then He came back to life.   They believed in the power of the foundation of our faith.  They believed that if any man could die and come back to life- that was something worth dying for.  That is also something worth living for!

The power of the foundation of our faith is the resurrection of Christ.   That power fueled the spread of Christianity in the earliest of days and is with us today.  Scriptures tell us that power can:

·        Do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine (Eph 3:20)

·        Allow us to forgive and to be forgiven. (Col 3:13)

·        It can set us free from guilt. (John 8:31-31)

·        That power can free us from the power of sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

·        It can help us demolish strongholds in our lives and allow us to stand our ground. (2 Cor 10:4)

·        That power allows us to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ. (1 Cor:10)

·        It enables us to not conform any longer to the patterns of this world. (Rom 12:2)

·        But that power can allow us to be transformed  by the renewing of our minds. (Rom 12:2)

·        It helps us to consider it pure joy when we endure trials. (James 1:2)

·        That power gives us the strength to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus . (Phil 3:14)

·        It allows us to never be lacking in zeal, but to keep our spiritual fervor serving the Lord. (Rom 12:11)

·        It makes us relentless in our pursuit of love for God and each other. (Mark 12:30-31)

·        That power propels us forward as we Go and make disciples of all nations. (Matt 28:19)

As we focus on Christ’s sacrifice this morning, may we also contemplate the power behind His resurrection for our community, church, and our selves.

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Love surpasses knowledge!

Do you ever feel intense pressure to make Mother's Day just right?  How do you honor someone adequately who has such an influential part on all our lives as Mothers?  To make my wife's Mother's day as good as possible, I thought I would get advice from our kids.  I asked them, "what do you think we should get Mommy to show her we love her and to surprise her in honor of Mother's day?"  My six-year-old, Isaac, quickly volunteered the idea that we should buy her a four wheeler.  My four-year-old, Rachel, suggested we buy her earrings, a necklace, and flowers.   My two-year-old, Liam, added that he thought we should buy her a chicken! 

As silly as some of their ideas were, they were motivated out of love.  No matter what we would have given Amanda, even if it was a chicken, she would have lovingly accepted it…because of how much she loves her kids.  In fact, we often here it said that “there is no greater love than the love of a mother for her children.”  

While mothers certainly have a huge capacity to love,  there is even a greater love!  The love God has for us.  In Ephesians 3:18-19, Paul prays we will know this love.  He prays we will have the power to know how wide, how long, how high and how deep is the love of Christ and to know His love that surpasses knowledge.   

This kind of love is amazingly vast.  Huge love!  I heard the amount of love that Christ has for us is similar to the amount of water available in the ocean for a sea bird.  All the small sips it will take from the ocean in it's life span will never come close to sipping all the water it has available in the ocean.  All our attempts to understand Christ's love will never come close to grasping how great it is.  This morning as we take communion together, I encourage you to pray that He will help you know His love that surpasses knowledge.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

But...THAT'S NOT FAIR!

Protects.  Trusts.  Hopes.  Perseveres.   It never fails that when I sit up front in church, Rick will share a heart wrenching story that will make me battle back tears in front of the congregation and my wife.  Last week I was not just a little misty, I felt like I was going to need a Kleenex!  Of course I would never ask for one.  I have a feeling we all could relate with the story he told of the young lady blogging about her trials with infertility. 

Amanda and I could directly relate, however, we all have had those life is not fair moments!  Like Rick said, it is false for us to believe that just because we are Christians life will be fair.  He spoke to my heart when he said we need grace and that we actually don't want life to be fair.  It got me wondering, what do you, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, do when life is not fair? 

What do you do when a loved one becomes sick or passes much earlier than they should?  That's not fair!  What do you do when you discover a grim diagnosis?  What do you do when those you love, the very people who are supposed to be helping you, turn on you?  What do you do when a job promotion continues to pass over you year after year? It's just not fair!  What do you do?

Two things I try to do during my "life's not fair moments" involve directing my focus.  The first thing I try to focus on is Christ and the second is His definition of love.  I try to remember that, of all people to have the right to say "life's not fair," it was Jesus Christ.  Communion time reminds me of that.  

Protects.  Trusts.  Hopes.  Perseveres. Christ death on the cross was not fair, but His resurrection was to protect us from God’s wrath:  Christ’s death on the cross was not fair, but His resurrection proves we can trust the promises of Christ and God’s word.    Christ’s death on the cross was not fair, but His resurrection provides us with hope in salvation in spite of our sin.   Christ’s death and resurrection demonstrates love as perseverance…Matthew tells us He could have called 72,000 angels to destroy the world and set us free.  But, if He had, He wouldn’t have accomplished His purpose on earth…to save us from Sin. Fortunately, Christ didn't get what He deserved. 
Christ’s resurrection proves that His love never fails!  God is love.  Christ is love.  Love defeated death.
In addition to focusing on Christ, I try to focus on His definition of love.  The same love that defeated death now lives in us.  When I am lacking focus, it has really helped me to just say "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" over and over.  As we prepare for communion and even for the next 14 days before Easter, if you have a problem with your mind wondering/staying focused, I encourage you to repeat those words. Consider saying those words repeatedly for the next three to four minutes.  Pray them.  Apply them to your life/your battles, your challenges and your hopes.  Imagine what would happen if we as a church body had this kind of love mastered?
Father thank you for your love that always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres and never fails.    Forgive us for falling short.  As we remember your love and sacrifice, As we contemplate your defeat over sin and death, Help us to  catch a glimpse of your love that surpasses knowledge.
 

Monday, February 23, 2015

The old way Vs. The new way

I have been reading through the old testament and I love this series by Andy Stanley:  http://northpoint.org/messages/brand-new/

Saturday, July 26, 2014

West Branch Reservoir Camping July 2014

We saw a bald eagle in Northeastern Ohio while camping last weekend.  It was seen flying through the swim zone at west branch state park in Ravenna, Ohio.  I also should note that if anyone uses site 57 while there, to be prepared in the event of rain.  The ground becomes very muddy and soaked where you step out from inside your camper.  Suggestions would be to bring lots of straw, saw dust, tarps or other forms of barriers to help control for these conditions.  We had a patio mat that became covered in mud/water.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Notes from the course "Calming An Overactive Brain" by Bill Kelley, Ph.D

I don't like to forget the good things I have learned.  Below is a summary of the take home messages from this course I attended today:

Telling someone not to think about something will only make them think about that thing.  For example, a picture of a white bear is shown and then the individual is told not to think about a white bear.  Certain brain impulses "want to go" and trying not to think about it is hard. 

The following video was shown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo&autoplay=1&app=desktop

Our brain has two major ways of processing information: Bottom up and Top Down.

Bottom up brain processing is mandatory.  This type of processing must happen.  Bottom up processing includes things like vision, vestibular, pain, temp, touch... any time the brain gets info from sensory stimuli, it has to work.  "Is it moving or stationary?"  "Is it hot or cold?" 

Top down processing makes us more or less enthusiastic about what we are experiencing.  It turns the volume up or down on certain stimuli.  Attention is an example of top down processing.  It includes our expectations of how things should be.  Our ability to manage bottom up information comes from a strong top down processing system.  (I have a feeling this is where sensory processing disorders arise).  I also think motion sickness and Fibromyalgia may be related to a dysfunction with these systems.

We have multiple memory systems.  Some systems help form and maintain habits.  Others assist with conditioning.  The hippocampus is very important for memory.   It helps with daily memory  Repetition is very helpful.  The Amygdala carries emotional flavor to memories.  The more senses involved, the more memorable.  Emotional memory can be dissociated from actual memory.

Memories are often not accurate.  The way questions are asked to children about what they remember can shape the memories of the children.  Leading questions in a repetitive fashion can make a child believe something happened when it did not happen.  Children are not capable of remembering events when they are infants because their memory hardware has not developed. 

Emotional memories with multiple senses involved last longer than events with little emotion and a lack of sensory input. 

The reward system motivates you.  A reward is reinforcement.  Reinforcement is not necessarily pleasurable (although it may be).  Reinforcement increases the likelihood for a behavior to be repeated.  Reinforcement of a behavior stimulates Dopamine.  Dopamine is a "wanting Neurotransmitter."  The release of Dopamine just states, "Do it again."  It does not stimulate a pleasure response.  Some people have higher reward activity for different stimulants.  This is why some people may have an eating disorder and others may have an addiction to gambling or sex.  Some may experience more reward activity when gossiping or causing conflict so they may purposefully gossip or create conflict to feed their reward system. 

Dopamine drives the need to get something.  The idea of something you like can stimulate Dopamine which will drive one to get the stimulus.  Dopamine stimulates a craving response not a liking response.  Online digital environments can stimulate a similar response as cocaine.   This system is responsible for addiction.  It is a bottom up processing system. 

What can we do?  Try to teach people to be better at self regulation.  Try to teach people to want to self regulate.  Increase social support- accountability/support groups.  Decrease social support for the unwanted behavior. 

Practical application:  As a parent, my response to the undesirable behavior of my child may stimulate Dopamine in the child.  If, for instance, I get frustrated and yell, that response may be sought purposefully my the child to stimulate their reward system.  This will eventually turn into habitual bad behavior by the parent and child. 

Behaviors that are repeated are quickly formed into habits by the habit forming part of the brain.  Stress over exaggerates habitual and emotional responses and suppresses our ability to self regulate those types of responses.  There is a constant battle between "just do it" and "stop" in our brains.  Stress deactivates our control system and props up our habit system. 

The Caudate is responsible for creating habits.  A habit is an automatic response to improve well being. It is fast and efficient.  It is learned and maintained by rewards.  Can be a behavior, thought or emotional response.  Habits can cause overactive behavior and an overactive brain.  An example of an overactive habit would be a person with OCD.   These individuals have behaviors turned into habits that should not be turned into habits.

The fear response occurs mostly through the Amygdala.  Just looking at a frightened face stimulates the Amygdala.  The Amygdala can be turned off by completing goal based tasks and thinking about tasks.  Goal directed tasks turn off the Amygdala.  Someone with a heighted fear response may do better if they are working toward accomplishing tasks and learning new things on a regular basis.

Learned helplessness is a double trap.  Not only do you blame everything that is bad that happens on yourself, but you believe nothing will ever change and therefore, you may be more likely to miss the opportunity for change to take place. 

One of the best ways to treat fear/anxiety is through guided exposure therapy and systematic desensitization.
 
Classic conditioning is when a something is pared with something else that causes a stimulus.  Any reward will reinforce behavior.  Habits are learned and maintained by rewards and reward circuits.  A reward equals reinforcement. 

The key to calming an overactive brain is to participate in activities that promote improvement in our ability to self regulate.  Hypnosis works very well at improving our ability to self regulate.  Learning to have proactive thoughts about behavior and that outcomes can be controlled help decrease fear.  The following practices tend to calm an overactive brain: deep breathing, meditation, mind and body practices, acupuncture, massage therapy, movement therapies, Tai Chi, spinal manipulation, yoga and humor.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has shown some evidence to help decrease PTSD.
Physical exercise improves our brains ability to function more than mental exercises.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

As now, so then

I am reading a book right now entitled Not A Fan by Kyle Idleman.  In this book, Kyle mentions the "as now, so then" principle.  He states this is a principle of human behavior that explains why we should not put off tomorrow what we can do today.  However we handle situations now will be how we handle them in the future.  That is why putting something off leads to the "something" never getting done.  He states, "the vast majority of the time, the decision you make today will be the decision you make tomorrow."