tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21258199309555288672024-02-19T05:06:54.121-08:00Pastor Joel's BlogPastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-46960070496103991112010-03-21T15:37:00.000-07:002010-03-21T15:44:36.166-07:00Reading ListHere is a list of books that I either have read or am reading.READING LISTCurrent ReadingsThe Web that has no Weaver; Understanding Chinese Medicine by Ted J. Kaptchuk, O.M.D.Execution; the discipline of getting things done by Larry Bossidy (Honywell Internatiional) and Ram Charan (author of Wht the CEO wants you to know)True for You, But Not For Me; Deflating the slogans that leave Christians Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-43753844009699944412010-02-16T11:10:00.000-08:002010-02-16T11:13:46.050-08:00Continuing Practice of FaithContinuing Practice of FaithHow do you apply faith in challenging situations?I certainly would not claim to be an expert. Like the medical field, I am still practicing. So here is what I am practicing. I have previously posted how helpful Isaiah 40:21-31 has been to me. Philippians 4:13 has also been helpful. (Philippians 4:13) I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Part of the Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-21476776769748711882009-12-05T12:08:00.000-08:002009-12-05T12:22:37.905-08:00Technical NoteThose of you who know my technical interest will understand some of the directions I have been going to accomodate my reduced book library space. Since I no longer have the luxury of wall-to-wall book shelves in either an office or a house, I have been working to put books in digital form. I take a book, slice the spine using a special guillitine paper cutter, then scan the loose pages with my Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-58112197484411544452009-10-22T04:59:00.000-07:002009-10-22T05:25:34.025-07:00Backing up Mark and JamesMy Pastor Blog over the next weeks will focus on temptation and as a backup to what Mark Crocco is covering in James. See his last two messages posted on Southwood’s web.ww.southwoodministries.org/messages/messages_current.htm This back-up is something I have done previously. See my blog posting for May 6, 2009, Faith Assignment No. 5Here is the relevant passage from James(James 1:2-18) {2} Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-24664883587101470122009-10-08T04:47:00.000-07:002009-10-08T05:00:27.586-07:00Tempting ThoughtsTemptation usually comes in the form of short term gain and ignores long term consequences. James contrasts this as wisdom from above and below.(James 3:13-18) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. {14} But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-68725064964395767752009-10-06T19:35:00.000-07:002009-10-06T19:36:26.033-07:00Current ReadingI am trying to take advantage of any spare time to read some books that have been on my reading list for awhile.Currently I am reading and about finished with Total Truth; Liberating Christianity from its Cultural Captivity by Nancy Pearcey. Excellent! As a coordinated project I am also working on organizing an endnote hyperlink file so that someone who wanted to follow the resources she has Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-47345095720635617532009-09-30T06:38:00.000-07:002009-09-30T07:03:24.877-07:00Managing troubling thoughtsHow do you manage troubling thoughts? They can be anxious thoughts, worry, troubling thoughts about someone, toward someone, anxiety and worry about future events, health issues, a future obligation. Whatever it is, the thoughts don’t go away and continuing to dwell on them is not healthy. Let’s recap some of the passages that I have been using to hlp us manage healthy thoughts. Remember that it Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-54456797301909720572009-09-09T05:17:00.000-07:002009-09-09T05:18:47.445-07:00Practicing good thoughtsI have been addressing several passages of Scripture that deal with managing our thought life so our emotions, attitudes, and behavior can be more Christ-like. Are you making progress? Take a look again at (2 Cor 10:3-6) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. {4} The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-56521527717252626792009-08-30T09:53:00.000-07:002009-08-30T09:55:30.332-07:00StrongholdsAs I have been writing about managing our thoughts and working off of Carolyn Leavy’s process; thoughts -> emotions - > attitudes -> behaviors, it is important to look at what happens when thoughts become entrenched and therefore, attitudes and behaviors also become entrenched. This is what Paul addresses in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5(2 Cor 10:3-5) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-30597858672151744592009-08-24T04:11:00.000-07:002009-08-24T04:14:21.367-07:00Christ and CancerThe following is the text of a message by John Piper, entitled, "Christ and Cancer"Christ and Cancer | Desiring God linkBy John Piper August 17, 1980 Romans 8:18-28 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; 20 for the creation Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-22851513395764768172009-08-21T05:07:00.000-07:002009-08-21T05:23:59.651-07:00Rationalizations and High Places2 Corinthians 10:3-6 is another thought management passage. We started in Romans 12:2 and the inside-out process given by Carolyn Leavy in her book, Who Switched off my Brain.Thoughts -> emotions -> attitudes -> behaviors. If you want behavioral change, work on your thought life. In Romans 12:2, mind renewal is encouraged by yielding ourselves to the work of the Spirit of God. Then in PhilippiansPastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-7730885693421057862009-08-18T03:24:00.000-07:002009-08-18T03:25:20.445-07:00Skill by Practice onlyOver the last few weeks, I have been focused on how to manage our thought life. Thoughts stir emotions, which then develop attitudes and then lead to behaviors. This is an inside-out process as is all of spiritual formation directed in the Bible. Along the way, I have tried to give some practical applications for the development of the skill of managing our thoughts. How have you been doing Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-54883438251036788152009-08-14T05:43:00.000-07:002009-08-14T05:45:06.200-07:00Choices and JoyIf you are someone who has put your trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, you have a new heart, new potentialities to be all that God has desired you to be. His life transforming power in the person of the Holy Spirit indwells you. You are a child of God and have all of the new opportunities this new family relationship provides. You have not arrived at perfection. Perfection happens when youPastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-39572508914180043932009-08-13T04:37:00.000-07:002009-08-13T05:05:14.875-07:00CompartmentalizationI am very aware that one of the dangers of American Christianity is our ability to compartmentalize our faith. How are doing with my suggestions for managing your thoughts? Is this irrelevant activity or only for the seriously religious or religious employed? I hope not. I have just begun to listen to the audio of Ken Boa's series on the epistle of James. James leaves no area of our life Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-74385754909068685282009-08-12T05:42:00.000-07:002009-08-12T05:47:42.202-07:00Trust and GuardI finished listening and taking notes on Ken Boa’s series on Proverbs early this morning. I also received through Amazon in the mail yesterday, his workbook on Proverbs, Pursuing Wisdom by Kenneth Boa & Gail Burnett (NavPress). Ken Boa’s summary of Proverbs keys on two applications:1) Trusting God implicitly2) Guarding your hearts completelyIf you have been with me on this blog you can pick Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-48733039370183200562009-08-11T04:10:00.000-07:002009-08-11T04:14:41.226-07:00Thoughts and yieldingHow have you been doing in yielding to the Spirit of God over this last day? Let’s combine yielding with the mind renewal principles that I have been communicating over the last few days. Remember, thoughts -> emotions -> attitudes -> behavior, so if I am going to change and manifest the fruit of the Spirit, it begins in the thought life. How has your thought life been for the last few days? WhatPastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-6470689782362710942009-08-10T02:48:00.000-07:002009-08-10T03:01:30.660-07:00Yielding to God’s SpiritAnother great message yesterday [Southwood Current Messages] from Mark Crocco on yielding to God’s Spirit.Here are some key points:1. The Christian life is aChrist centered, Spirit empowered, faith driven life leading to Christlike transformation to the Glory of God.2. Living in the supernatural power of God's Spirit involves choosing to place our dependence in the power of the Spirit of God on aPastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-71051323895092337542009-08-08T05:51:00.000-07:002009-08-08T05:54:24.630-07:00Why no fear?I am keenly aware that most of us live fairly busy lives and thought lives consumed with the details and activities of the day. Those who have work and home responsibilities have enough to keep them busy from early morning to late evening. So, where do we fit in spiritual formation (the inner character development that shapes our thoughts, emotions, attitudes, and behaviors) to be more like the Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-4564236959253722332009-08-04T04:15:00.000-07:002009-08-04T04:18:10.424-07:00Managing thoughts: no anxietyI have been addressing for several weeks the issue of managing our thoughts from the stimulus I received from Carolyn Leaf’s book, Who Switched Off My Brain?Like you, my thought life is active. For that we can be thankful, sometimes, because it is an indication that we have a brain. But like you, I am not always pleased at the direction of my thoughts: anxious, irritated, impatient, angry, etc. Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-59984048294405941392009-08-02T06:45:00.000-07:002009-08-02T06:56:45.263-07:00Thoughts on thoughtsSee my family blog on Awake and Rejoicing.(Psa 118:24) This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.Why not direct your thoughts in a direction that is encouraging? Who is telling you that you do not have the freedom and capability to think encouraging thoughts? If you want to continue to thinks thoughts of discouragment, maybe you have identified a root issue. Do you Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-38174179751733856692009-07-31T03:57:00.000-07:002009-07-31T04:01:04.170-07:00No Spiritual Growth by ProxyIf you belong to organizations that send you a yearly ballot allowing you to nominate someone to vote in your place, don’t you wish you could do the same spiritually? Fortunately, God has not designed life to be lived by proxy. You must live your own life. But that means that, not only the suffering must be yours but also the resulting joy. Note the following verse that Dotttie and I have Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-4136249503517170592009-07-27T04:06:00.000-07:002009-07-27T04:08:46.593-07:00Root of the issueIn medicine, finding the root cause of the disease can lead to a permanent solution. We all would like to see the end of a disease and enjoy freedom, remission, or relief. So it is in behavioral issues. As we have been learning, the root of behavioral issues is in our thought life. Our thought life is what the Bible frequently refers to as our heart.(Proverbs 4:23) Above all else, guard your Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-29310480412694047312009-07-23T04:21:00.000-07:002009-07-23T04:36:49.418-07:00Gentle Answer RevisitedMy blog yesterday on transformation vs more information came home to roost over the last few days when I realized I needed to revisit my blog on giving a gentle answer. God has great ways to keep us on track in pursuing Christlikeness. Hopefully you realize I am a fellow traveler on this journey of spiritual transformation. I reviewed some details on the word ‘gentle’ in Proverbs 15:1. I can’t Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-70139830854685355622009-07-22T05:46:00.000-07:002009-07-22T05:47:08.507-07:00Discipline of QuietnessYesterday I encouraged us to slow down and take time to absorb what God might be teaching us in managing our thoughts. I know how hard this is. My brain doesn’t slow down easily. But I am realizing that if I want to clearly hear what God is trying to teach me, I must slow down long enough to listen. When do you and I take the time during each day, just to listen? How do I do that? If we are goingPastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125819930955528867.post-75536806616620841872009-07-21T05:56:00.000-07:002009-07-22T05:16:48.702-07:00Information and TransformationYesterday I posted the first of my articles on managing your thought life. I gave you some application steps as a faith assignment. I am tempted to press on to the two other passages that address managing our thought life (Philippians 4:6-9 and 2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Before I expound on those verses, how are you doing with renewing your mind from yesterday’s blog? One of the dangers in the Pastor Joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01647161909399768667noreply@blogger.com0