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  • Katrina 7:51 pm on August 22, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

    The Cycle of Spiritual Success 

    God, Christ Jesus & Money: Americans hold ideas of prevailing extremes – we see this in the US in the promises of the “Health and Wealth Gospel” – if you pray and ask God, he will give you a mansion, a car, buy your children’s way through college, etc. Conversely, there is a group emerging that embraces the vow of “poverty” as a culture. No WiFi or Starbucks for them. If it involves money, it’s not trustworthy (that is, of course – until they need a place to sleep or something to eat). People will preach these ideas with passion from the front, and others will live out these beliefs in silence.

    And there is no shortage of critics. Many will condemn Christians for holding such worldviews on both ends of the spectrum. Different flavors of Christians pick each other apart over these differences everyday.

    It remains highly probable that you operate out of one of the following worldviews:

    1) Resources are limited (scarcity)
    -or-
    2) Resources are abundant (provision)

    It also remains highly probable that you do not fit into the “Health and Wealth” Gospel or the Gospel of “Avoiding All Money”.

    Just look at the sunshine, the great oceans, the vast canyons, the cool breeze, and you’ll see God’s role in our lives includes that of creator, provider and sustainer. On the other hand, when we look at the prevailing injustices that continue to incur in the world, we wonder precisely why there is such a scarcity, an imbalance.

    The imbalance caused from injustice
    and the imbalance caused from excess
    all come from
    a position of comparison.

    We focus on other people; we compare ourselves alongside others – sometimes mindlessly, sometimes obsessively. We “rank” ourselves in some self-composed continuum.

    Where did we learn this orientation? How did our understanding of God and the world shape our decisions? What breakthroughs do we dream of seeing? What constraints do we long for? When will we say, “This is the perfect amount (of money, food, sex, power, family)” and truly mean it?

    “Health and Wealth Gospel” aside, God provides. He continually creates us.

    When we play the “Do I measure up?” game with our peers (real or imaginary), we operate out of fear and we view God as fundamentally limited, the God scarcity. (And fear remains a powerful motivator!) When we appreciate God and listen to / connect with Jesus, we are on a trajectory that generates mutual compassion.

    When we position our eyes
    on Christ Jesus
    on God, the provider,
    He will be our balance.
    He will give us peace & joy.

    Here is a sneak peak at the Cycle of Spiritual Success.
    There is more where this came from inside the online course, MESO.

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    • Rusty Wimberly 11:09 am on August 29, 2010 Permalink

      enjoyed this article. i think it addresses clearly some of the issues we struggle with on a daily basis. I personally have run into both camps and find it hard to bring balance to one or the other. Interestingly, each perspective has something to bring to the other. Its unfortunate how the enemy seeks to keep a spiritual wedge in between us to prevent advancement. I also took a look at the ‘meso’ courses your providing. I love the concept! Keep up the good work in Chicago.

  • Mark 9:30 pm on July 28, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    This is my second try to send a book to Wilbirth(?) through my phone, using jott. listen

    Powered by Jott

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  • Mark 4:49 pm on May 29, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    Packing Seven Years 

    Well, we just finished packing ALL our stuff into a huge trailer that my mom brought down from Indy.  Its sort of a humbling feeling thinking about all that’s about to happen, as well as all that has happened.  I was thinking the other day – Katrina and I have lived in Abilene for a full seven years (that almost sounds biblical!).  We’ve grown so close to so many friends, great friends, the best of friends.  The kind of friends that are there forever – the kind of friends that will get ultra sweaty (or were okay with me even after I got ultra sweaty) to help you pack a trailer in the middle of the blazing heat.

    There is something special about the friends you make in college.  Those you get connected with as you live in the dorms together, eat in the cafeteria day in day out, work college jobs, pull some pranks, and so much more…it seems that those who are with you for all of that are the closest friends that last all your life.

    Thank you guys for your awesome help today.  Thanks for seven awesome years of memories I’ll never forget.  Thanks for your love in Christ.  And as always…

    BE RIGHT OUT!!!

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    • Amber Joy 9:25 am on June 1, 2008 Permalink

      Glad you guys could take a break long enough for our wedding. We can’t wait to see you all more while you’re in Chicago!

    • Mark 9:34 pm on June 1, 2008 Permalink

      It was totally awesome getting to see two people we dig the most getting hitched! :) Hope things are going well for you guys, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

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