“The Secret” [v101]

JULY 2007

WHAT IS YOUR ‘FOUNDATION’?: I was educated as an Architect and learned that the most important part of the building is the foundation. You can build the most expensive and impressive ‘structure’ ever, but if you don’t put it on a ‘solid’ foundation, over time you will see the walls crack, water will leak into the space, or worse, it will start to ‘fall apart’ to such an extent that the structure will be unsafe for use and will be ‘condemned’ (like the Leaning Tower of Pisa) or even torn down (sadly, many examples).

Recently, I was at a networking group meeting that they showed a “motivational” video called “THE SECRET.” It presented the “LAW OF ATTRACTION” as the fundamental ‘secret’ of the universe—like attracts like—and to live the “abundant life” one only needs to follow a simple three-step ‘formula’: “Ask; Believe; Receive.”

It posits that, essentially you ‘are’ the thoughts you think, the feelings you feel, the words you say, and the actions you take—and they all consist of an ‘energy’ that attracts you to more of the same. That is, if you believe something long enough and hard enough, it will eventually ‘materialize’. You get what you think about and your thoughts determine your destiny (i.e. if you think only good things, only good things will happen to you).

The following are some ‘snippets’ from the DVD presentation in the order they were presented:

– Be clear on what you want
– You attract what you think about most
– Thoughts become things
– Don’t think about what you don’t want
– The “Law Of Attraction” responds to your thoughts without regard to what value you put on them
– Passion makes the “Law of Attraction” happen faster
– Whatever you’re thinking and feeling today is creating your future
– The universe will show you the way
– You have to feel what you want because thinking about it alone won’t help you get there
– All that we are is a result of what we have thought
– Gratitude is the way to bring more goods things into your life
– When you visualize, you materialize
– Our job isn’t to figure out the how; we need only focus on the what
– The how’s are the domain of the universe
– As you love yourself, you’ll love others
– Your happiness lies within you
– Happier thoughts lead to healthier living
– You can heal yourself
– Energy flows where attention goes
– You’re an energy field operating in a larger energy field
– We are all connected
– You are god manifested in a human form
– We are another way of the universe becoming conscious of itself
– You are the designer and the creator of your life
– There is no blackboard in the sky where god has written your purpose
– Your purpose is what you say it is
– Find something that feels good and resonates with your heart
– Inner happiness is the fuel of success

First off, there are many GOOD CONCEPTS that the video promotes—such as positive thinking and gratitude. Psychology knows that what you think about has tremendous impact on your life. The most common form of counseling today is “cognitive-behavioral therapy” (CBT). It is the most well researched and empirically supported treatment method for most psychological problems including depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, alcohol and substance abuse disorders, and others. CBT is based on the idea that how we think (cognition), how we feel (emotion), and how we act (behavior) all interact together. Specifically, our thoughts influence our feelings and our behavior. Therefore, negative and unrealistic thoughts can cause us distress and result in problems while positive and optimistic thoughts promote better health.

Another popular counseling approach is called solution-focused therapy. It believes that people get stuck talking about their problems and it tries to direct people toward talking about and focusing on solutions. One of the main proponents of this model, Steve de Shazer wrote a book called, “Words are Magic.”

Victor Frankl, a psychiatrist and holocaust survivor documented how people with hope and meaning tended to survive the Nazi concentration camps while those who mentally gave up literally willed themselves to death. Current cancer treatment highlights the need for optimism, hope, and positive expectations. Whether one views the glass as half empty or half full has a significant impact on treatment rates. Negative cognitive schemas or expectations often become self-fulfilling prophecies while those who look for the good find that their generosity and kindness to others is often returned.

CBT focuses on challenging irrational, overly negative and pessimistic thoughts and replacing them with more affirming thoughts. People burden themselves with overly restrictive notions of the way things ‘should’ be and deny themselves or others the grace to enjoy what is meaningful in life.

“The Secret” video takes all of this a ‘step’ further. It presents that there is “special knowledge” that has existed throughout the history of humankind that allows one to “prosper” from positive thinking, and that is has been discovered, coveted, suppressed, hidden, lost and recovered. It also notes that a number of exceptional men and women who have discovered it, have gone on to become known as the greatest people who ever lived. Among them: Plato, Leonardo, Galileo, Napoleon, Hugo, Beethoven, Lincoln, Edison, Einstein and Carnegie, to name a few.

The official web site of “The Secret” has a synopsis in which it presents the following:

“Fragments of “The Secret” have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of “The Secret” come together in an incredible revelation which will be life transforming for all who experience it.

Some of today’s greatest teachers will be presented in “The Secret” and will impart this SPECIAL WISDOM [emphasis mine] that has been known by so few. They include some of the world’s leaders in the fields of business, economics, medicine, psychology, history, theology and science. Each of these teachers is living proof of “The Secret”; each of them a walking marvel of achievement and success.”

The web site (and the DVD) presents to us “Master Teachers,” who are a veritable “whose who” in the fields of quantum physics, psychology, metaphysics, theology, philosophy, finance, Feng Shui, medicine, and personal development.

These “contributors” are described on the official website as: a “philosopher” who developed “The Science of Success and Harmonic Wealth” which teaches people how to yield unlimited results in all areas: relationally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually” (James Arthur Ray); a “business building and moneymaking” expert (John Assaraf); a “doctor,” “philosopher,” and “international speaker” (John DeMartini); a “metaphysician” and “one of the top marketing specialists in the world” (Joe Vitale); and “a nonaligned, trans-religious progressive” (Michael Beckwith). Such titles reveal the new kind of gurus to whom millions of people give credence today. [Also included are prominent authors like Jack Canfield (“Chicken Soup…” series), John Gray (Men from Venus…), Denis Waitley (Psychology of Winning), and Neale Donald Walsch (Conversations With God)].

So, what’s the ‘ESSENCE’ of what they are proclaiming? Well, as mentioned before, it’s the “Law Of Attraction”—and its ‘method’ is, “Ask; Believe; Receive.”

Lisa Nichols, a Master Teacher, informs us that the first step to achieving our desires is to ASK. Make a “command” of the Universe. Let the Universe know what you want. The Universe responds to your thoughts. Dr. Joe Vitale offers this quip, “This is really fun. It’s like having the Universe as your catalogue. It is You placing your order with the Universe. It’s really that easy.”

Nichols continues by stating that the second step in achieving all that we want is to BELIEVE. “Believe that it is already yours. Have what I love to call unwavering faith. Believing in the unseen.” In the moment you ask, and believe and know you already have it in the unseen, the entire Universe shifts to bring it into the seen. In other words, God, the Universe, immediately tunes to your “frequency” and then because of the “Law of Attraction” he is obligated to supply all your wants. Vitale makes another comment that, “The Universe will start to rearrange itself to make it happen for you. You don’t need to know how it’s going to come about. You don’t need to know how the Universe will arrange itself. Just simply believe!”

The third step according to Nichols is to RECEIVE that which we have commanded. Nichols states that an important part of our receiving is for us to feel wonderful about it. Beckwith comments, “This is a feeling Universe. If you just intellectually believe something, but you have no corresponding feeling underneath that, you don’t necessarily have enough power to manifest what you want in your life. You have to feel it.”

To sum it all up, Rhonda Byrne, the author of “The Secret,” makes this observation: “So whichever way you look at it, the result is still the same. We are One. We are all connected, and we are all part of the One Energy Field, or the One Supreme Mind, or the One Consciousness, or the One Creative Source. Call it whatever you want, but we are all One. The message of The Secret is plain for all to see, You are God in a physical body. You are Spirit in the flesh. You are Eternal Life expressing itself as you. You are a cosmic being. You are all power. You are magnificence. You are the creator, and you are creating the creation of You on this planet.”

QUESTION:
Why should we ‘take to heart’ what they say? ‘Where’ have they received their “wisdom” from? From what ‘SOURCE’? What is the ‘FOUNDATION’ of their knowledge?

Well, though I’m all for ‘positive thinking’, I think there is a proper ‘balance’ to it. There is no doubt it’s definitely much better to wake up in the morning and have a positive attitude much like the book urges. But what makes “The Secret” a bit ‘troubling’ for me is that it mixes genuinely ‘virtuous’ messages with generally accepted ‘harmful’ messages into something they call “truth.”

All the ‘avatars’ claim that the “Law Of Attraction” never fails, and that it is as reliable as the Law of Gravity. So, I wondered…what happens if two people, whom are both ‘masters’ of the “the secret,” and one wants a sunny day and the other wants rain?

Marcy Montenegro made this observation: “There is a downside. If we attract good things, then we can also attract the negative. So this means that if you are robbed, assaulted, or if your car is stolen, etc., then you attracted that to yourself. This has hideous implications if you apply this theory to horrific events like the Holocaust and 9/11.”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for ‘proper’ empowerment, but the ‘kind’ that teaches responsibility and how one can free themselves from the ‘traps’ of servitude—economical, political, sexual, or psychological—not one that ‘blames’ me for my appendicitis or an auto accident because I wasn’t being “positive enough.”

Another ‘good’ teaching of “The Secret” has to do with giving and gratefulness. My first thought about it is: for what reason and what is the motivation? Should we express gratitude such that “we increase our opportunity to receive more”? (Byrne, p 74). Should we give so that the “positive energy in your actions will be on the correct frequency or vibration of the Universe so you will get more”? (Byrne, p 77). And should “getting what we want” be the reason to focus on the good in others? (Byrne, p 107). [Does the name “Scrooge” conger up any thoughts about all this?].

Well, it’s probably no ‘surprise’ (especially to those who have been receiving this newsletter for a while) that the BIBLE is my SOURCE and FOUNDATION for knowledge and wisdom—and it also ‘says’ that it should also be FOR EVERYONE.

[P.S.: If you would like to investigate further whether the Bible is Divinely inspired or just merely human, visit the following link:  http://www.4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q4_d1_1of10.html ].

While “The Secret” does teach about many of the same positive values taught in the Bible, it clearly opposes a belief in the God of the Bible and who Jesus is.

On the Oprah Winfrey Show, one of the “Masters,” Dr. Michael Beckwith quotes “Jesus, The Prophet” (the term people use when they don’t believe He is God) as saying, “the Kingdom Of Heaven is within.” Well, apparently Beckwith didn’t read the Scripture in context. “The Kingdom Of God” and Heaven are two separate things. Jesus is the Kingdom Of God. Specifically, the Body of Christ, or the “Church.” That’s why Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is at hand” [Mark 1:14-16]. In many places of the Bible, Jesus is referred to as “God,” and He also makes it very clear that He believes that when He said, “I and the Father are one” [John 10:30]. [Note: Knowing what this really meant, the Jews picked up stones to ‘stone’ (kill) Him].

Biblically, one of the most important errors of “The Secret” is that it promotes a self-centered faith rather than a God-centered faith. The Secret is all about how to achieve your own goals; how to increase your own wealth; and how to attract all good things to yourself. The goal of life, according to “The Secret,” is self-indulgence, self-aggrandizement, and self- centeredness.

Contributor Joe Vitale says, “You are the masterpiece of your own life. You are the Michelangelo of your own life. The David you are sculpting is you” (p 23). Ms. Byrne makes this perfectly clear, proclaiming, “There is a truth deep down inside of you that has been waiting for you to discover it, and that Truth is this: you deserve all good things life has to offer” (p 41). She concludes, “All good things are your birthright! You are the creator of you, and the law of attraction is your magnificent tool to create whatever you want in your life. Welcome to the magic of life and the magnificence of You!” (p 41). Similar affirmations abound in the book, like “You are the heir to the kingdom. Prosperity is your birthright, and you hold the key to more abundance—in every area of your life—than you can possibly imagine. You deserve every good thing you want, but you have to summon it into your life” (p 109).

By contrast, the Bible reminds us that God, revealed in Jesus Christ, is the creator, sustainer, and purpose for the universe. The Apostle Paul reminds us that Christ has all of the preeminence [Colossians 1:18]. The writer to the Hebrews explains that the only glory we humans have for ourselves is because of our ‘identity’ in Christ: “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering” [Hebrews 2:10]. In the Book of Romans, Paul explains that the glory God has prepared for us is not self-indulgent and materialistic, but instead, “God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified” [Romans 8:28-30].

Many other Bible verses are also misquoted and/or taken out of context. A “Secret Master,” James Arthur Ray (“an expert on many Eastern, indigenous, and mystical traditions”) says, “Here’s the question I want you to consider—do you treat yourself the way you want other people to treat you?” Well, Ray’s ‘twist’ on the “Golden Rule” (treat others as you would like them to treat you—See Matthew 7:12) becomes the ultimate form of self-centeredness.

Another one of the main premises in the Secret is to go by your “feelings” and emotions. It says if you “feel good” then you’re on the right path, but if you “feel bad” then you’re going in the wrong direction. This is in direct contradiction to Jeremiah 17:9 which states that the heart (feelings) is “deceitful and wicked and cannot be trusted.”

To me, this “feel good” mentality makes no sense at all. Think about it, doesn’t ALL sin feel good? I mean, if sin felt bad WHO would do it? Not only that, but one of the main examples of “The Secret” in action was of a gay man and a fornicator. Now, I don’t want to get into a debate about a currently very ‘sensitive’ issue at this point (but I will say, hate the sin and love the sinner), but the Bible is very clear about it: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. [1 Corinthians 6: 9-10].

“The Secret” also promotes the inherent goodness of humanity and human salvation through self-actions. All suffering and evil is said to be natural products of self-determination (like the eastern view of karma). All ethics are ‘relative’. There is no ‘innocent’ suffering, and all those who suffer have caused their own suffering by their own “confession of negativity” in their lives. The Bible, however, espouses doctrines of atonement, forgiveness, mercy, and grace.

Also, in “The Secret” movie, Neal Donald Walsh says, “God has no purpose for your life, it’s what you make it and you’ll never be judged for it, not now not ever.” Well, this is in direct contradiction to hundreds of Scriptures referring to the final judgment [ex. Romans 2:4-6], and other places in the Bible that say that “all your days have been ordained for you” [Psalm 139:16] and though man has “plans in his heart, it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” [Proverbs 19:21].

There are many other things I could discuss (many ‘points’ are compared at the end of this newsletter), but IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS…

Everyone of us has to make a decision for themselves from what ‘SOURCE’ they are going to ‘FOUND’ their “standards” on—what we will live our lives based on.

Thing is, it seems that if one were to command “god” (the Universe) to produce all that he desired and wanted, would it be the same that God would have wanted for them?…or might God have preferred a different outcome?

In my view the secret to living one’s life as the Bible teaches, is to desire the things that God desires for you rather than making a command to fulfill one’s lusts.

Yes, we are to have faith that all things are possible with God. Yes, we can do all things through Christ Jesus. However, we can’t forget to factor in God’s plans and desires. Biblical faith is not God granting us our wishes like some Divine ‘genie’ in heaven. God has promised to meet our needs, not our wants. You want a Filet Mignon. You need to eat. God will meet your need for a food. If at some point you are blessed to be able to buy a Filet, praise the Lord. But, there is nothing in the Bible that equates our faith with personal prosperity (though, sadly, this has been the ‘perverted’ teachings of the hyper-faith, “name-it-and-claim-it” prosperity Gospel movement that has emerged over the past 30 years).

These ‘prosperity teachers’ are tapping into the same greed and desire for the “things of this world” that the motivational gurus and the various New Age philosophies focus on (like the “Law of Attraction”).

As one matures in Christ, part of that maturation process is for our wants and desires to become God’s wants and desires. We may want a Filet, but our priorities shift from what we want to what God wants. Having a Filet no longer becomes our passionate desire. What motivates us as we mature in Christ are the things of God and what He wants from our lives.

Why does God prosper some and not others? Why did God bless Abraham with so much, yet most who lived at the same time had nothing but what they needed to survive that day? Ever wonder why those who preach this false prosperity Gospel only preach it in the United States and not in India or Africa? (Does that mean those who are poor and with nothing in China but love Jesus, don’t have as much faith as someone who lives in a trendy suburb of Dallas?)

One’s ‘faith’ is not measured by your bank account, but by how you ‘live’ for God on a daily basis. Only God knows why some are blessed to have more material possessions than others. I can tell you this, at the moment you take your last breath, all the homes, cars, stock portfolios, and all the ‘things’ of this world will MEAN NOTHING! At that moment, the only thing that will matter is that if you ‘KNOW’ JESUS as your personal Savior by faith. A rich man may die in a nicer bed with nicer surroundings than a poor man, but the moment they both take their last breath, all they had or didn’t have in this life is meaningless—and they will be going to the eternal ‘location’ they ‘decided’ on while on this earth! (and you can’t change it after you die—read the rich man and Lazarus story in Luke 16).

I believe there are NO SECRETS to living this life. God gave us everything we need in the pages of the Bible. Those who know Jesus Christ possess the only true answers for true wealth in this life—and for eternity.

Again, I must reiterate, I am not against “positive thinking”—quite the opposite. What I am against is “teachers” perverting the Bible to suit their own purposes. If they don’t want to use the Bible as their ‘foundation’ or ‘standard’ for “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” [2 Timothy 3:16] that’s just fine, then just be honest enough to say where their opinion comes from.

Lots of people are embracing “The Secret,” I daresay, because they want hope, ‘power’ for living, ‘freedom’ from the past, and true ‘forgiveness’ (that just so happens to be the ‘promises’ of God to a believer in Christ!).

Then again, come to think of it, there is a “secret” out there that most people have ‘kept’ themselves from knowing. The Apostle Paul spoke of it almost two thousand years ago, but people throughout history have attempted to keep it from most people. It is found in an ancient “letter” addressed to the city of Philippi. A portion of it reads:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

“I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”[Philippians 4:6-13].

We all have to make the decision for ourselves ‘where’ we get “truth” from. I am suggesting that you honestly consider the Bible to be your ‘FOUNDATION’ for living if you have not made that decision yet. And if you have not, consider reading the Book of John in the Bible (it would only take you a few hours, max). It will present to you who Jesus is—the whole ‘reason’ for the Bible (cover to cover).

He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands” [Hebrews 1:10].

[Excerpts from: Dr. Darryl DelHousaye; Mel Lawrenz; Russ Wise; Gretchen Passantino; John Stackhouse]

Blessings….
Mark

[P.S. For the Christians reading this, the purpose of our life is to glorify God—not one’s self. It’s not about garnering the wealth of the world, or to live in perfect health. Our ‘true’ motivation in all that we do is to honor our Creator, and to point others to the mercies and goodness of a loving Father].

LIFE’S DEEP THOUGHTS (v101) for JULY 2007

If you have a ‘neat’ story or some thoughts about an issue or current event that you would like me to try to respond to, I would be glad to give it a try…so, send them to me at: mbesh@ameritech.net

Thanks to:
Bob Hart
Michelle Jones

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THE SECRET BEHIND THE SONG
People often think of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” as the days preceding the festival. Actually, Christmas is a season of the Christian Year that last for days beginning December 25 and lasting until January 6—the “Day of Epiphany” when the church celebrates the revelation of Christ as the light of the world and recalls the journey of the Magi.

From 1558 until 1829 people in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly. During this era someone wrote “The Twelve Days of Christmas” as a kind of ‘secret catechism’ that could be sung in public without risk of persecution. The song has two levels of interpretation: “the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of the church.”
Each element in the carol is a code word for a religious reality.
– The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ.
– The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.
– Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love.
– The four calling birds are the four Gospels.
– The five gold rings recall the Torah (Law) the first five books of the Old Testament.
– The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.
– Seven swans a-swimming represent the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit.
– The eight maids a-milking are the eight beatitudes.
– Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5).
– The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.
– Eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful disciples.
– Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the 12 points of belief in the Apostles Creed.
[Received from Michelle Jones—Contributed by Eric Fairman]

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LIKE GOOD SECRETS
In “The Screwtape Letters” C. S. Lewis creates a scene that reveals a startling truth. The senior devil is training a junior devil to intercept a man who is on the verge of becoming a Christian. The young devil is to deter the man from God, who they call “the Enemy.” The junior devil tries his best to distract his subject, but after a few weeks returns unsuccessful. The frustrated young devil cannot explain what went wrong, but notes that the man did two simple things each day. Every morning he would get up and go for a long walk, thoroughly enjoying the air, the scenery, and all in all, the walk itself. Then every evening, at then end of his day, the man would curl up with a good book, thoroughly delighting in that book, the reading, the time itself. To this, the senior devil notes sharply: “This is where you went horribly wrong! You should have put it into his mind that he had to get up in the morning and take that walk for the sake of exercise. It would have become drudgery to him. And you should have gotten him to read the book so that he could quote it to somebody else. It would have become equally uninspiring. You allowed him to enjoy such pure pleasure that the Enemy’s voice became more audible within those experiences. That is where you went wrong.”

What Lewis calls “pure pleasure” is something that often eludes us to our own misfortune. Enjoying the current moment for what it is and for all that it offers brings us within the reach of God’s voice. The concluding words of the apostle Paul to the Philippian Church speak of a similar mystery. Writes Paul, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things… And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9). In this there is a deep and wonderful truth. As King David sings in many of the psalms, God is always present; He is omnipresent. But there are times we are given the mind to truly seize it. Divine presence is revealed unmistakably at certain moments in our lives. Particular experiences of truth, of beauty, of excellence whisper of the mystery that God is intimately with us.

Now consider an explanation in stark contrast to the words of Lewis and Paul. Woody Allen once confessed in an interview, “It’s hard for me to enjoy anything because I’m aware how transient things are… Yes, there are times when you think, ‘My God, life is sweet, it’s nice,’ and thoughts of mortality are in abeyance. You know, watching the Marx Brothers or a Knicks game or listening to great jazz, you get a great feeling of ecstasy… But then it passes, and the dark reality of life starts to creep back in.”

We find in this life undeniable glimpses of sweetness, glimpses and feelings that tell us there is something wonderful about life itself, something profound. Sometimes these moments come crashing like intoxicating waves over us, other times like good secrets that have crept up on us. But how will you interpret these moments? If life itself is meaningless, quite logically, as Allen concluded, such moments are merely trivial and fleeting interruptions of that dark reality. And sadly, even the sweetest moments then become something like cruel tricks played on us by life itself.

Truly, there is much that is bad and seemingly meaningless in the universe, and certainly, the world is full of men who point this out as the reason for unbelief. But to me the Christian answer is far better. The Christian does not deny that there is much that is bad, but acknowledges that this is a good world that has gone terribly wrong. It is a good world gone wrong, with a memory of what should have been. In this, our moments of wonder are exactly that, moments of wonder, memories of what should have been, visions of God’s presence among us, and longings for what will one day be so. This is the startling mystery Christ voices loudly: “This abundant life of which you have thus far only seen glimpses, will indeed, be fully yours.” [Revelation 21:3-6].
[Jill Carattini]

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THE SECRET OF GETTING WHERE YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO GO
Commercial flying can be a real adventure. Like the day I booked a last-minute flight to the Northwest to support some Native American friends of ours who had just lost their young son. I was supposed to fly into Spokane, Washington, but fog shut it down and we were diverted to another airport for the night. So, the airline put us up in a hotel overnight and promised us they would do their best to get us to Spokane the next morning. I knew if I didn’t get to the reservation that next day, I would have missed what I was going for. I really needed the real scoop on whether or not our plane was going to get into Spokane.

Thankfully, from a casual conversation at the hotel, I knew who the captain was. So that next morning, as we waited around trying to get some word on the fate of our flight, I saw the captain headed for a pay phone in the airport. I made sure I got close to the captain; he was calling to check the current Spokane weather. Then, as he walked over to the gate agents in charge of our flight, I overheard him say, “Well, we’ll try Spokane, but I think there’s only a 20% chance we’ll get in. We’ll probably end up back in Denver where we started.” Well, that inside information helped me pursue alternatives – one of which got me where I needed to be, when I needed to be there.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have a word with you today about “The Secret of Getting Where You’re Supposed to Go.”

There was one reason I knew where to go—I stayed close to the captain. Actually, that’s how you’re going to know what you’re supposed to do and where you’re supposed to go—by staying close to the Captain of your flight; by staying close to your Lord Jesus.

There are eight words in our word for today from the Word of God that I’ve actually made into a plaque for my wall. They’re from 2 Chronicles 23:7, and they remind me of the secret of knowing and doing what God has planned in any given situation. In this chapter, a coalition of military and spiritual leaders is working to put the rightful king on the throne in Judah—even though he’s only a boy. The temple staff, the Levites, are given a straightforward assignment, and here are those eight words, “Stay close to the king wherever he goes.” That’s your assignment, too. That’s my assignment.

And when you do, you’ll be led naturally—actually supernaturally—into the next steps you are supposed to take. Just like that day at the airport when I got my direction just by staying close to the captain. He had the information I needed, but I never would have known that information except for my proximity to the one who knew. It’s like that with knowing God’s will. It’s not your cleverness in figuring it out; it’s your closeness to the God whose will you’re looking for!

That’s actually the spirit of John 10, which describes us as sheep following our Shepherd. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). See, it’s about being where you can hear His voice—not figuring out some spiritual jigsaw puzzle called “The Will of God.”

If you’re needing to know God’s direction right now, don’t focus so much on figuring out The Plan. Focus on staying close to the Man, to Jesus, whose plan it is. Living in God’s will isn’t supposed to be this stressful spiritual mystery game. Relax and do the things that get you really close to the person who is the Pilot of your earth-journey. Or in the words of the Bible, “Stay close to the King…wherever He goes!”
[Received from Bob Hart—Written by Ron Hutchcraft]

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SOME COMPARISONS: “THE SECRET” TO THE BIBLE

“If you can think about what you want in your mind, and make that your dominant thought, you will bring it into your life.”(Byrne p 9)

Meditate on God’s works and mighty deeds, His precepts and ways, His decrees, His wonders, His law and His statutes. (Psalm 77:12) (Psalm 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148)
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“When you focus your thoughts on something you want, and you hold that focus, you are in that moment summoning what you want with the mightiest power in the Universe.” (Byrne p 14)

“Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2)

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  (Matthew 22:37) (Also, Luke 10:27; Mark 12:30)

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)
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“The law of attraction is the law of creation.  Quantum physicists tell us that the entire Universe emerged from thought!  You create your life through your thoughts and the law of attraction…” (Byrne p 15)

“And God said, ‘Let there be light, and there was light.'” (Genesis 1:3)

“And God said, ‘Let there be an expanse between the waters,” (Genesis 1:6)
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“…you create your own reality.  That’s where your freedom is, that’s where all you power is.”
(Byrne p 39)

“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3)

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.” (John 1:10)

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:11)

“I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)

“He determines the course of world events; he removes kings and sets others on the throne.”(Daniel 2:21)
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“Ask once, believe you have received, and all you have to do to receive is feel good.” (Byrne p 53) [They quote Matthew 21:22 and Mark 11:24 to support the process].

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24) [Note: Please read the entire chapter to know the context].

“Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him.  And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.” (1 John 3:21-24)

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:3)
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To attract more money to yourself, you are instructed to say and feel the following:
“I love money and money loves me.”(Byrne p 107)

“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Luke 16:13)

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…” (1 Timothy 6:10)

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DEEP THOUGHT:
A gushy reporter told Jack Nicklaus, “You are spectacular, your name is synonymous with the game of golf. You really know your way around the course. What’s your secret?”

Nicklaus replied, “The holes are numbered.” [Stick to those ‘foundational’ basics!].

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Hope you enjoyed some of these insights—share them with your friends and colleagues—so we can have a larger ‘pool’ to receive from, and more to share with!

Also, remember to include your name as the “source,” if some of this wisdom is of your doing—I would like to give credit where credit is due!

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” [Matthew 6:6].

Mark

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Disclaimer: All the above jokes & inspirations are obtained from various sources and copyright are used when known. Other than our name and headers, we do not own the copyright to any of the materials sent to this list. We just want to spread the ministry of God’s love and cheerfulness throughout the world.

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