2023

Control Freak

Dr. Mike 2023 , , ,

1 Corinthians 9:25

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Psalm 143:10

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

Do you focus on the things you cannot control?

Do you have a strong desire to control the people and environment around you rather than your emotions?

When working on a team, do you have to dictate everyone’s behavior?

Do you believe you know what is best for everyone and make people act a certain way?

Do you focus your time and energy on preventing bad things to happen because of your hidden doubt to manage difficult situations?

Do you find it difficult to delegate tasks? If you do, than do you insist on micromanaging every step of the way?

If you answer yes to any of these, you may be a control freak. As a reformed control addict, I know. I’ve been there. Done it. And have the scars to show.

In my early twenties, still single, and the world my play-box, I struggled to relate with people in the workplace. I was very task-oriented. People were the means to the end. In other words, my self-centered approach was to use people for the things I wanted to do. I egotistically knew best. If you worked for me, it was my way or the highway. It wasn’t pretty.

But, through the grace of God, HE opened my eyes. I repented from the sinful approach of being a dictator of others. Instead, I learn to trust God and His Spirit. I learn to delegate without strings attached. The end result was learning to lead people and manage systems.

How does one learn to best lead others?

The best way is to learn from others. We start first with your relationship with the Triune God. How does He lead you? When He delegates an assignment to you? Does He generally give you specific details in how to carry it out? Or does He simple nudge you in a certain way and allow you to express your personality and skill set? Does He force you to comply? Or does He allow you to choose?

When you have a working relationship with the living God, you learn from Him. You experience the fruit of mutual submission. You learn the importance of self-control over controlling others. You learn to give space for others to reflect God’s character in them. You allow people to become who God created them to be. You take part with Him and others in their adventurous journey of transformation in Christ.

Yes, being a control freak reduces your potential as a person. You rob yourself from fully experiencing the power of trusting God. You weaken your relationship with Him. Faith becomes only a word. You isolate yourself from allowing God’s Spirit to fully transform you into His image. You end up fighting against Him. You hurt yourself in the process. You also hurt those whom you love.

When you force people to submit to your whims, you also rob God the opportunity to fully express His character through them. You play god. You become an idol. You are stealing from Him. You are preventing people around you to become the person God created them to be.

I also had the opportunity to work for two gentlemen who taught me the godly way of balancing relationships with business outcomes. They exercised integrity and character in all their relationships. God knew what I needed at the time and provided the environment and means to change my ways.

Yes, we are all broken. Some more than others. But broken still. So when God’s Spirit opens your eyes to see yourself in the mirror of Jesus, don’t hesitate. Repent. Ask Him to show you and empower you to become more like Him. This includes admitting our sins, weaknesses, and shortcomings. It hurts the pride meter. But this is good. When you allow His Spirit full entrance into your heart and mind, you will begin to experience more of God’s fruit. Yes, there will be stumbles. There will be short-term failure. But the road leads to Him.

With Him, you become less of a control freak and more of a trusting comrade working with Him to extend His Kingdom. You will more fully grasp the love of God. You will work along with the Holy Spirit. You will align His purpose with your micro plans to live a full, abiding life in Christ. And you will enrich the lives of others along the way.     

Yes, when I became a Jesus freak, I waved goodbye being a control freak.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Born to Live a Forever Life

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , ,

Genesis 3:22

Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—”

We all know the Genesis account of Adam and Eve. God gave them the responsibility to manage Eden. They also received explicit instructions to enjoy everything in the garden but not touch nor eat from the tree of knowing good and evil. Of course when one is told not to do something, don’t we gravitate toward it? Does it even matter if there are ten thousand other options for your choosing? Your eyes cannot remove themselves from the one forbidden item. Yes, even if one of the other items includes the tree of life which pictures eternal life.

We have all been there. The moment of truth. Whether we succumb to the temptation or refrain from following through, the choice is ours to make. Like Eve, how often are we told not to touch something. If we did, it would cause us severe pain. So when we did, and nothing immediately occurred, we felt like we were lied too. So we continue on the same forbidden path, entrench in the matter, thinking everything we have been told is also a lie. But after satisfying our indulgence, the negative impact occurs. We eventually regret our decision, but it is too late. The pain from the consequences of our action begins their decent. Our world is turned upside down.

Adam and Eve is our historical example of what happens when we fail to submit to God’s instructions. He is the author of creation and life. His concern, contrary to hostile opinions, is for humanity’s success. So, what happens when we choose to ignore HIM and decide for ourselves what is good and bad?  The long-term consequences are unpleasant.

One decree to follow and our initial parents failed to comply. Are we any different?

Adam and Eve were born to live a full and productive life. They even had the opportunity to take the fruit from the tree of life and live a meaningful, happy, and full life forever. But their self-centered desire along with their lack of trust in God Almighty allowed deception to enter into their world. They failed to consider God’s decrees are designed for our good. How? By maintaining boundaries in place to prevent us from falling into the dark side of life.

The negative consequences of history repeat themselves because we fail to learn from them. Yet, we are thankful Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophesy given at the Fall to reestablish direct contact with God for you and I today. We can now choose to follow the divine practices of HIS Kingdom and escape the fragmented trauma of living in a broken world.

Yes, evil is constantly throwing its ugly darts hoping to dissuade us from pursuing our Lord and HIS promise land. But we are grateful HE has chosen to live in us. To equip us with heavenly tools. To combat the enemy. And to grant us the opportunity of being born again. To live life the way HE intended humanity to be and act.

One day Eden will be restored. Then, you and I will fully participate with our Great God. We will live life to the fullest within a community of others for a greater purpose than surviving for another day. You and I were born to live. And life begins with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. HE made everything possible. Let HIM lead you to a life worth living. You will always be gratefully surprised by the long-term outcome.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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How is the Hole in Your Soul?

Dr. Mike 2023 , , , ,

Psalm 107:9

For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

Blaise Pascal was a mathematician and Christian philosopher alive in the mid seventeen century France. His book Pensées outline his thinking on how  accepting God’s existence is a highly probable event. He also wrote about the hole in every person’s soul. In my observation of human behavior, I have to agree with him on His soul metaphor.

We are all born with an emptiness in our soul. A yearning or desire which needs to be satisfied. A part which completes and fulfills our deepest passion. I believe the hole was deliberately created by God for God himself. HE wired each of us to have a relationship with HIM. Yet HE doesn’t force Himself upon us.

Like mutual, satisfying sex within the marriage bond, so is the act of allowing God to fill our soul hole. But not for a one-night stand. HE is looking for a long-term, permanent intimate relationship.

Our souls also need purpose. Literature, history and even current movies show how us humans have a strong need for romance and adventure. Without either, we shrivel into a wimp like state. But when we are mutually attracted to another person, life becomes exciting. Our emotional cup becomes more satisfied.  

Likewise, having an adventure helps one grow in responsibility and maturity. Competition with an adversary allows one to develop stronger character. And accomplishing a worthwhile mission builds faith and confidence. Life becomes more alive as you grow from the ordeal. And growth adds greater value of self and community.

But when our soul hole is full of false illusions, empty lies, and half-truths, we come out angry, frustrated, and unfulfilled. Only when the real God becomes one with a person does life become worth living. Until then, the ugliness and pain of life destroys the soul’s influence on the person’s spirit and body.

Jesus came so you and I may experience the abundant life (Jn. 10:10). When you seek the Truth, your road is built upon solid ground (Jn 4:24). Freedom. Flourishment. Fulfillment. These are outcomes of HIS lifestyle. His ways empowers all people. We gladly join Him on HIS quest to restore creation. He doesn’t use power to oppress others. Instead HE serves others to build them up into the people they were born to be.

But it all goes back to how you and I are going to fill up our soul hole. Are we going to allow HIM full entrance? Or are we going to keep HIM out?  Adam and Eve could have filled their cup from the tree of life (Gen. 3:22).  But instead took upon themselves to decide what is good and evil.

History is the lesson of choosing who, what, and how one fills up their soul. I chose the Triune God. How about you?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

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