It’s senior year and so I guess everything is a milestone. David came in third for Homecoming King and he will be in the parade for NJROTC. Both David and Greg have dates for the dance…won’t say more for “don’t embarass me” dad factor…

Posted via web from Dana Hanson

Let’s consider two don’ts and two do’s.

Don’t:

1. Idolize your body

Here is where I draw such a fine line. On the one hand, having a healthy body is very helpful in giving me energy, focus, and longevity in serving God and others. On the other hand, if I get too obsessive about my body, which includes my health, I may be too anxious about death and aging and how my body may fail me. This anxiety stifles my reliance on Jesus for security.

Do you see the distinction? I am free to give my body over to Jesus, care for it through the wisdom I receive from him, and at the same time knowing that I will receive a new glorified body some day that will live with him forever.

1 Cor. 15:43 (NLT)
Our bodies now disappoint us, but when they are raised, they will be full of glory. They are weak now, but when they are raised, they will be full of power.

I’m getting pumped already!

2. Misuse your body

First, let’s all relax. Sometimes Christians get too choosy about this topic. Everyone is throwing this verse around when it is convenient to chastise someone else.

1 Cor. 6:19-20 (NLT)
Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, [20] for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

First of all, when you look at the context, the Bible is talking about sexual immorality here, not whether you have stock in Starbuck's. Even so, “your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” has been used for everything from drinking coffee (Of course the latest studies show that coffee is one of the best antioxidants there is and extremely helpful in preventing diabetes. See  here.for instance), smoking (OK, not helpful) and drinking alcoholic beverages (red wine all the rage, moderation is the key…)

It’s interesting that people don’t usually use this same Bible verse for exercise and proper diet. The classic case is a preacher talking about the “temple of the Holy Spirit,” when, as someone once said, "their own temple has a big front porch addition." The gut hanging over the belt is an occupational hazard for many clergy (sansabelt, anyone?)

It is important for us to diet and exercise. It is important for us to get enough rest. It is a national past time for us to be overworked and undernourished. Transforming our bodies includes all of this.

The other ways we can misuse our bodies I have already addressed. Trying to be sexually alluring, “power” dressing, body language, verbal manipulation and such. We are to give ourselves over the Jesus, as we are now his body. How?

See you Monday!

Posted via email from how to be a christian without being a jerk!

God desires what is best for our bodies. We can have the body of Jesus. This doesn’t mean that we all grow beards. That’s a relief for you women out there. To be changed into the likeness of Jesus means our bodies become devoted to serving God and doing what he wants done. We are created to do just this. Our health and happiness are centered on giving our bodies over to God.

Intention is so critical at this point because our bodies are so demanding. So much of what gets in our way becomes an addiction. Addictions of all kinds are our bodies talking, saying they won’t have it any other way.

“There is nothing wrong with that. It’s natural.”

“I was born this way. It’s genetic.”

“What’s so bad about it? Everyone else does it.”

Jesus knows we are going to have a challenge transforming our bodies more than anything. He said,

Matthew 26:41 (NLT)  
    Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit (our choices) is willing enough, the body is weak!"

God offers another way. We can’t will ourselves to “just say no.” We have to place ourselves before the author and giver of life and work with him changing into our best, true selves. The means to do this come next.

Posted via email from how to be a christian without being a jerk!

Still more characteristics of a spiritually focused life.

5. Peace- Loving God and others is my primary purpose in life. With Jesus on the throne of my life I can live this way. I am not trying to establish my kingdom but work in his. What does this look like?

Superstar athletes learn how focus so intently, they screen out everything that brings the possibility of negative thinking. Tiger Woods is an example of this. I spoke with a friend who has the opportunity to play with many pro golfers and he said the thing that sets Tiger apart from everyone else is his incredible intensity of the current situation. He lives directly in the moment and always looks for something positive to tune in on before his next shot.

When he hits it in the trees? No problem. There is that one opening there between those two big branches that make a target for the green. It is a perfect visual. If you are a golfer, you get the picture. Non-golfers, it just means the guy absolutely expects good things to happen.

This is how my faith life can look like. No matter what is happening around me, my body and my body language are at peace. I can respond to any situation with the Bible’s tools of positive emotion. My body responds with love, joy, peace, faithfulness, gentleness, kindness, and self-control. This is the energy I feed off of in my relationships with others. This creates an environment around me that reduces anxiety in others.

6. Win/ Win- When Jesus is on the throne, I am honoring and respectful of others even if they are not following a godly life. I offer myself to God and so I can be completely open to you. I can practice true tolerance.

Tolerance is not approving of everything you do. The definition of tolerance is this: I am respectful and courteous to you and I disagree with you. You cannot be tolerant of people you agree with. My body is living in line with Jesus and so I am relating to you through him. I am his to use as he pleases. I am available.

This kind of life is made possible through Jesus’ sacrifice for me. As he gave his life for me, my life is totally his forever. I am the last person on earth who could ever say, “It’s my body, and I will do with it what I please.”

Now, how do I actually gain this spiritually focused life? Next, intention and means to transform my body.  

Posted via web from how to be a christian without being a jerk!

Sermon 27 Sept 2009 by Pastor Dana Hanson  
Download now or listen on posterous

Sermon 27 Sept 2009.mp3 (6687 KB)

The breakthrough of the "Transfiguration"

Posted via email from LIFEhouse

The vision to transform my body rests on a spiritually focused life. Here are more characteristics of this life.

3. Your Body, Your Choice- I don’t force my ways on you. Following Jesus’ way, as I am in relationship with you, I will pursue his ways. I will not try to use any forceful methods of persuasion to get you to see his ways. I will not try to gain advantage over you. Like Jesus, I honor your capability to make your own choices without trying to manipulate you or aggressively applying pressure to make you change those choices.

4. Christ’s Choice vs. Your Choice- I will be in relationship with you, but I will also pursue the ways of Jesus. As I am experiencing Christ’s guidance and power in keeping my commitments to him, he is making it possible for me to refuse to follow any other road. It becomes easier to do the right thing.

In my relationship with you, if you choose a path not consistent with that of Jesus, I will respectfully decline to participate. I will do so in a gentle, non-judgmental manner, but the path I choose will be clear.

I realize this may seem strange. In the past, my decisions would be about following my own desires. It is not the past, however. In the present and future, I am committed to following Jesus’ desires. I will not try to force this on you, and neither will I back away from what he is doing in my life.

Posted via email from how to be a christian without being a jerk!

There is another way.

Not easy.

Not quick.

Out of this world, in fact, but doable. It is His world, after all.

1. Christ's Way
I can surrender to Jesus. My body will cry out bloody murder against this move cross-ward, but this is what I was designed for. The earth and my human ways are not my home.

2. Christ's Body, Christ's Choice
With Jesus on the throne of my life, my body becomes the primary vessel with which I serve him and those he loves. I make a commitment to be a "little Christ," as Martin Luther would say. I become conscious of the lag time between stimulus and response. It is within this gap that I chose to live, always ready to pause before I respond or react. Little tips from grandmothers long ago become realistic "body-tamers."

"Take a deep breath."

"Count to ten."

"Think."

Posted via email from how to be a christian without being a jerk!

We have looked at 4 ways we use our human desires to dictate how we live with others. Here are two more ways this can get in the way of spiritual growth.

5. War

Here is where we cross swords. All of the unholy tools I have previously mentioned may come into use. I will gain the advantage at all cost. After a while, it may not be getting my own way I am after, it may be just as important to me that you don't get yours. This is as old as the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4). If Cain is not receiving his father's blessing, well then, as a dead man, neither will Abel.

6. Win the Battle, Lose the War

Nothing good comes from this conflict of self-worship in one person battling self-worship in another person. If the other person gives in or simply quits, your satisfaction will be short-lived. The devastating effects may be permanent. We generally don't engage in these battles with strangers. We match up against those we love; those with whom we can least afford to have fractured relations. Our stupidity in our interpersonal lives is often labeled, "self-destructive," and indeed this is an accurate observation.

A confession: After writing on these characteristics of a body focused life rather than a spiritually focused life, I saw myself in some of this more than I would care to admit.

If you saw yourself in any of this, then join me as we discover the antidote…

A spiritually-focused life

Posted via email from how to be a christian without being a jerk!

We have looked at 4 ways we use our human desires to dictate how we live with others. Here are two more ways this can get in the way of spiritual growth.

5. War

Here is where we cross swords. All of the unholy tools I have previously mentioned may come into use. I will gain the advantage at all cost. After a while, it may not be getting my own way I am after, it may be just as important to me that you don’t get yours. This is as old as the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4). If Cain is not receiving his father’s blessing, well then, as a dead man, neither will Abel.

6. Win the Battle, Lose the War

Nothing good comes from this conflict of self-worship in one person battling self-worship in another person. If the other person gives in or simply quits, your satisfaction will be short-lived. The devastating effects may be permanent. We generally don’t engage in these battles with strangers. We match up against those we love; those with whom we can least afford to have fractured relations. Our stupidity in our interpersonal lives is often labeled, “self-destructive,” and indeed this is an accurate observation.

A confession: After writing on these characteristics of a body focused life rather than a spiritually focused life, I saw myself in some of this more than I would care to admit.

If you saw yourself in any of this, then join me as we discover the antidote…

A spiritually-focused life

Posted via web from how to be a christian without being a jerk!

More characteristics of a life lived through my body without spiritual transformation.

3. Your Body, My Choice
I am on the throne of my own kingdom, but that is not enough. I need to be on the throne of your life, as well. So I go into a body mode in my relationship with you.

Tongue- verbal manipulation where I use word games with you to try to gain advantage over you. Politically correct language is an example of this trait gone rampant. It is the language of the modern religion of sel- worship. Always shifting the playing field to suit my purposes; always keeping you off balance.

Verbal attack comes into play here, as well. I don't have the time nor the interest to use principled reason when a good bitter, sarcastic, seething tongue-lashing substitutes for clear thinking.

Then there are the tried and true of whining, flattery, repetitive requests,etc. Verbal manipulation is a sign that our human creativity and and imagination are not always a gift for the good.

"Body Language"- Here is another tool at my disposal to influence your kingdom. I become the master of the frown, scowl, rolled eyes, crossed arms, and chin-in-the chest. I am the man of a thousand looks.

Related are the sounds of body language. The "tsk, tsk's," deep sighs, and "harumph" breaths that I learned along with language itself. Just witness a young child practice these as if he/she were working on a black belt in sound attack.

4. My Choice vs. Your Choice
Remember in all of these attempts to be the master of my own universe, you are working the same program that I am. Here is where we enter into inevitable conflict. I can't be on my throne if I have to deal with you, and you are clinging to yours, as well. Something has to give.

Posted via email from how to be a christian without being a jerk!