REVOLUTION: A Self-Talk Assessment

The following assessment is taken from “Learning to Tell Myself the Truth” by William Backus

Here is a list of self-talk statements based on common misbeliefs. Read them over and check those you can relate to, those that express how you think or feel.

These statements may not necessarily reflect how you think and/or feel currently; if you recognize your own thoughts, past or present, in these statements, go ahead and check the statement.

Depression

1. Things will never get better. I have nothing to look forward to.

2. My life isn't worth living. I just don't have anything to live for.

3. No matter what I do, my past controls my life.

4. The way I was raised will always determine how I feel and what I do.

5. I feel worthless. No matter how hard I try, I feel like a failure.

6. When anyone else screws up, things seem to work out; anytime I screw up, it's a major disaster.

7. I am a failure at everything that really matters.

8. God despises people who have not lived up to His law.

9. I'm tired of hurting, tired of trying. I don't even want to get out of bed in the morning.

10. I can't change or control the way I feel.

Anxiety

1. I can't stand it if anyone is upset with me.

2. I worry about everything that could possibly go wrong.

3. If something bad happens, I should be able to handle it better than I do.

4. When someone disapproves of me, I feel like something is wrong with me.

5. I can hardly stand it if someone doesn't like me.

6. When things are going OK for me, I always feel like something terrible is going to happen to me.

7. I'd rather avoid taking any risks. I shouldn't take chances.

8. God will love me as long as I do the things I should.

9. Jesus was gentle and meek, always thinking of the welfare of others; therefore, I should let others do what they wish and not be assertive about what I want or need.

10. If I don't perform perfectly, I'm a failure.

Anger

1. I think I should get what I want most of the time.

2. My family should respect and appreciate me more than they do.

3. My spouse and children (or co-workers, relatives, etc.) should do what I want because I only have their best interests at heart.

4. When things don't go the way I planned, I get very frustrated.

5. Getting angry is a sin.

6. If my husband/wife would just listen to me, things would be better.

7. I shouldn't have to go through these unpleasant experiences.

8. I need to keep my anger to myself until I'm over it; a good Christian doesn't express anger, especially to family or church members.

9. I never learned how to control my temper when I was a kid and it's too late now.

10. I get mad because other people upset me.

Perfectionism

1. If I wasn't so successful, I don't think people would be interested in being with me.

2. I don't think relationships should be this hard. I can hardly stand it if someone doesn't like me.

3. There's a right way and a wrong way to do things, and I am impatient with others when they don't do things right. I am usually right.

4. I can change whatever is wrong with me if I just try harder.

5. When I feel bad it's usually because of the way other people have acted.

6. If I don't live up to my own expectations, I'm a failure.

7. I don't expect any more of others than I expect of myself.

8. If my family would treat me differently, I would be happier.

9. I frequently put off doing something, because I know how it should be done and doing it "right" feels overwhelming.

10. Things should be easier than this.

What This Survey Tells You

There are no norms for this inventory. You may find your self-talk tends to cluster into one or more areas of concentration, such as anxiety or depression. This survey is simply a helpful tool to clarify what areas of emotional health you will want to focus on. If you recognize your own self-talk in many of these statements, you are probably struggling with the painful effects of the underlying misbeliefs. Identifying the misbe­liefs that prompt our self-talk is the first step to freeing ourselves from their control.

The assessment has ten in each of the category. Count the number of statements that you checked under each heading and rate yourself according to the following scales.

VERY HIGH: 8-10. If you checked between 8-10 in anyone category, you are undoubtedly experiencing significant emotional tur­moil or relational difficulty. This assessment can be the beginning of a new life for you. These statements, representing some of the self-talk that governs your attitudes and actions, are based on misbeliefs. Recognizing your misbeliefs and learning to tell yourself the truth will have a profound effect on your life. By working this program, you're headed in the right direction.

HIGH: 5-7. If you scored in this level, you will be surprised at the progress you will make by changing your misbeliefs. Although many of your reactions, emotions, and attitudes are now grounded in misbelief, you will soon experience considerable freedom by learning to overcome these unhealthy emotional undercurrents.

MODERATE: 3-4. A moderate score in one category, with a high or very high score in another category, indicates where you need to devote your efforts first. Let one area of growth wait while you work on the area creating greater emotional distress. Then come back to the lower-scoring category. Learning to tell yourself the truth in any area of concern will have a ripple effect. Once you begin this process, you will find the power of truth affecting all areas of your life.

LOW: 0-2. A low score is an indication that this is probably not a pressing area of concern for you. However, if you scored low in each category, the cumulative effect of these misbeliefs is a hindrance to happiness and emotional well-being. Learning to tell yourself the truth will enhance your self-esteem and your relationships with God and with others.

CORE BELIEFS (God’s Will/Facts)

Many thoughts/statements in this blog post are taken from “Learning to Tell Myself the Truth” by William Backus

We can know Scriptural truth, yet still allow ourselves to be influence by untrue self-talk. Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we listen to the nonstop stream of inner non-sense?

Marriage Automatic Thoughts

The automatic thoughts (and resulting anger, irritation and empty love) about an event in a marriage don’t pop out of the air.

· “When he looked at me I could tell how disgusted he was with my fat wrinkled body in those clothes. He didn’t want to even compliment me because of how repulsed he was.”

· “When she opened our relationship up to her friend it absolutely disrespected me and now I am so mad I don’t know if I can be friends with that couple now.”

Our automatic thoughts spring from underlying beliefs, or more to the point, misbeliefs. The beliefs underlying our inappropriate, alarming or painful self-talk are usually false beliefs, beliefs which, examined in the light of truth, are irrational, false and misinformed.

Why He Didn’t Compliment?

· Anxt in his soul - It is very possible that the reason he didn’t compliment your new outfit is because he had a complex issue, an anxt of his own working in his soul and wasn’t aware of the outfit.

· Not aware of his own clothes - It could be that he hasn’t recognized his own clothes in the last 20 years so why, in his mind, would he possibly need to be aware of yours?

· Question 1 - The question at hand is, “Does he really love you?” YES!

· Question 2 - Then, “Is he repulsed by your looks?” That sounds like HIS problem one-way or the other, not YOURS. The QUESTION now is, can you rationally believe that you are beautiful independent of him? Beauty is really a matter of conditioning. About 500 years ago the large, busty plain lady was the mega hot model. (Some of you are thinking, “that was my generation…I missed my generation!”).

The Science of Behavior Illustrated

Even today different cultures perceive beauty differently. Which shows that preconditioning of value characteristics (thin/fat, blond/brunette, blue/brown eyes, etc.) establishes core beliefs, setting off a rapid shot of thoughts, overwhelming the physiological and neurological systems with emotion (known also as desire) and finally producing correspondingly energized courting behavior!

· Subjectivity - The point is you feel ugly because you think your ugly because you subjectively believe ugly is defined by someone of your weight, your nose shape, your hair coarseness, etc.

· Rational Disapproval - Which all of those can be rationally disproved. What if you leveraged your mind toward thinking about your nose as being the most beautiful of them all…mirror, mirror on the wall whose nose is fairest of them all.

· Chemical Reaction - Guess what your emotions and all the chemicals and physiological systems would kick in and you would begin to have this fulfilled reality in your heart. Then you would become yet more radiant because of the health of your heart and self esteem.

Self Talk Contradicts Rational Beliefs

So now, what if we suppose some of your internal monologue habitually fills your head with self-talk that is downright contradictory to some of the information you have on the shelves in the back of your brain (“Little Boy…” in previous post)? For instance, suppose your self-talk goes something like this:

· “Everything is going wrong for me. I have so many goals and dreams that I came short in. I’m a failure! How could a God who loves me let all this happen?”

Meanwhile, sitting on one of the shelves is stored the wonderful words of the apostle Paul and John:

· “(Nothing) will be able to separate us from the love of God…” Rom 8:39

· “God is love” 1 John 4:8

· “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” 1 John 4:10

“Yes, I know all that,” you may reply, “but___”

The point is this: You can know the truth somewhere in your brain’s storage cells, but not know the truth in your internal monologue. All to often we make ourselves miserable and keep ourselves miserable by listening to a non-stop stream of inner nonsense – even when we know very well that the nonsense runs counter to divine truth.

We are going to show you how to change core beliefs (Biblically things we believe with our hearts) effectively. But for now look at the below Scriptures and notice the 4 points in the process to behavioral science.

Eph 2:3 AMP Among these we as well as you once lived (4. Controlled Behavior) and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh (3. Consuming Emotions) [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind (2. Compulsive Thoughts) [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings].

Prov 23:7 NKJV For as he (a person) thinks (2. Compulsive Thoughts) in his heart (1. Core Beliefs), so is he (4. Controlled Behavior).

Matt 15:18-20 NKJV But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart (1. Core Beliefs), and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart (1. Core Beliefs), proceed evil thoughts (2. Compulsive Thoughts), murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies (4. Controlled Behavior). 20 These are the things which defile a man…

Prov 4:20-23 NKJV My son, give attention to my words (2. Compulsive Thoughts); Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes (2. Compulsive Thoughts); Keep them in the midst of your heart (1. Core Beliefs),; 22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart (1. Core Beliefs), with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life (4. Controlled Behavior).

In the future blog posts I will be giving further, more extensive exercises and Scriptures to help support your life change…without a doubt your freedom is imminent…you have joined a REVOLUTION!

Reflection Exercise:

Read the following prayer out loud, filling in the blank spaces with your name and your unwanted moods, emotions, or habits. Then create a document that you can print and carry around with you. Reread out loud (even in a whisper) at least once per day, preferably several times a day, for the next week. As we walk through this REVOLUTION over the next several weeks call on Him to be your Guide.

A Prayer of Commitment

Lord God, Heavenly Father,

Your Son, Jesus Christ, has made three specific promises to His followers: 1) that you will give your Holy Spirit to those who ask; 2) that you the Spirit will guide us into ALL the truth; and 3) that by knowing the Truth, we will be made free. I __________, believe it is your perfect will for me to be free from _______________ (your unwanted moods, emotions, or habits). Believing in your Holy Son and trusting in His promises, I ask you fill my life with the presence of your Holy Spirit and give me guidance and courage as I face these painful, confusing and consuming emotions. I am trusting that you are with me, and the results I leave in your hands, knowing you will be faithful in granting me the freedom your Son has promised. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

Check out http://www.mylifepointe.com/audio-and-video-teachings-from-olathe-lifepointe-church.aspx to watch the video or listen to the audio of Revolution 2010 part 1 where I cover these issues in a worship service. Join the REVOLUTION!

COMPULSIVE THOUGHTS (New Ideals)

Many thoughts/statements in this blog post are taken from “Learning to Tell Myself the Truth” by William Backus

We too often fail to recognize the connection between our feelings, our thoughts and the ongoing internal monologue we carry within ourselves at all times. This internal monologue – our self-talk – is the way we interpret events, emotions and circumstances. The words and images running through our minds begin at an early age and determine our feelings and actions, our moods and habits. For many of us our self-talk can be largely misinformed and distorted, causing emotional turmoil, maladaptive behavior, or relational difficulties.

By never addressing the “misbeliefs” that inform our self-talk, we become victims of circumstances, events, and painful emotions. Like a fish on a hook, we allow our emotions to be yanked and tugged by everyday events and circumstances, regardless of the direction we are trying to swim!

As a result, most of us think that events cause our ups and downs, never noticing how feelings and actions spring from the thoughts fed by our beliefs. It is not the events themselves, but what we tell ourselves as we interpret what’s happening that makes all the difference.

Our culture is heavily influenced by Freudian philosophy, leading us to believe that psychological healing can come only by exploring the past in depth, and the feelings are primary; feelings are the “real problem” or the main thing to be concerned about.

However, the Bible, and now current psychological research, clearly refutes that orientation. Your feelings are no more the cause of your problems than the red spots are the cause of the chicken pox on the face of a child. Feelings are not the cause of your emotional difficulties – they are the results!

The fact is, YOU FEEL THE WAY YOU THINK! The solution to the frustration of gray moods, negative self-concepts, and dismaying habits is to be found in recognizing simple truth: you feel the way you think; you think the way you believe. Learning to control your emotions begins when you learn to listen to self-talk.

In other words, identifying your self-talk is the first step to determining what your basic beliefs are. AND you should know, your beliefs we are talking about are NOT THE RATIONAL BELIEFS YOU THINK YOU HAVE. We will talk more about that in the next post.

Little Person In Your Brain

Imagine with me that inside all our brains, the interior wall is lined with shelves. On these shelves are stacked boxes containing all the facts and information you have ever learned (some of you may wonder why you have no boxes on any shelves). All the Bible passages you memorized, sermons you have heard, math, biology, history, sports, strategies in shopping, marriage, parenting, etc. are categorized in these boxes.

Now, in the middle of this human archive is a small bar stool with a little person on it…a little boy or girl as the case may be. And what is this little person doing? Why, talking of course! Night and day, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, every minute of your life from the time you learned to verbalize your thoughts, this person talks. This miniature “you” who chatters nonstop is your self-talk or your internal monologue.

Self-Talk (Internal Monologue)

Quiet simply, your internal monologue is the never-silent stream of words or images running through your head night and day. Because they pop into your mind unbidden, the thoughts and images of the internal monologue are sometimes called automatic thoughts.

Personal Awareness Thoughts…

· You are ugly! / You are beautiful!

· You are such a loser! / You are so empowered and blessed!

· Nobody likes you! / You have so much favor and people love you!

· You aren’t gifted! / You have so much grace to share with people!

· You have nothing to offer anyone! / You are a healthy support gift to any relationship!

· You aren’t very exciting! / Even when you aren’t the energy of generator you are a great audience that reflects the energy of others…and boy do people enjoy having me around!

· You are goofy! / You are secure in your individuality!

Event Reaction Thoughts…

· When Jerry said, “Your shirt looks like your Bozo the clown!” I didn’t have anything to say back. What I should have said is, “Jerry, your hair looks like Donald Trump…at least I can change shirts!”

· When Shirley’s grandmother fell I didn’t even move to help her up. I am so embarrassed. Why didn’t I do the Christ-like thing and quickly tend to her.

· When Sally said, “Johnny (your little boy) isn’t eating the right things!” it made me so angry that she thinks she should be my boss and the expert of nutrition. Who does she thinks she is?

Future Plans Thoughts…

· I’d like to be able to retire in about 10 years but it doesn’t look like we will have enough money to. I wish I had of planned better about this stuff. I’m so disappointed!

· We would like to have a baby but have been having trouble conceiving. Every day it looks like I’ll never have my dream life…NEVER!

· My wife has beautiful qualities but her personality has ripped my heart out. She has gained weight and is so self-conscious that it is difficult to be intimate. Every discussion about “us” starts with how we are distant and then explodes to other things. If she felt that her weight gain was important why doesn’t she lose the weight…geez!

These three categorical examples don’t even scratch the surface to all the various thoughts we have about politics, religion, business, etc. and all the relationships, barriers, future implications each association has on our perpetuating thought.

Self-Talk and Emotions

With this invasion of automatic thoughts running like a creek (river at times) through our brains there are equally thousands of opportunities for our brains to get stuck on a thought that has years of formative emotions connected to it. Those emotions developed from preconditions, exercise, experience and observation are our clear truth and the lens we interpret the world through. And those emotions fire up our physiological systems and the chemicals in our brains to produce an overwhelming reality that feels like our “personality”. For some this “personality” is positive and filled with hope, love and peace. For others this personality is negative and filled with anger, anxiety, depression and a tank empty of all intimacy. But without question, this holistic emotional experience is nothing more than the by-product of our mental thoughts and images.

If thoughts can be changed, emotions can be changed. But thoughts cannot be changed without changing core beliefs. That will be the next blog post.

Reflection Exercise:

When an event in life happens and your emotions are distinctly surfacing, what are your associated thoughts? Take a notebook and make a table with these column headings:

1. Behavioral Response

2. Physiological/Emotional Response

3. Self-Talk Thoughts

4. The Event (Provocation)

Then for the next several days keep a personal log (3-4 times a day) of samplings of what you are feeling and thinking. This exercise is to begin creating awareness in you of the subterranean thoughts and emotions that have been driving so many things in your life. Until you are aware of negative processes it will be very hard to make significant changes to the process.

Check out http://www.mylifepointe.com/audio-and-video-teachings-from-olathe-lifepointe-church.aspx to watch the video or listen to the audio of Revolution 2010 part 1 where I cover these issues in a worship service. Join the REVOLUTION!

CONSUMING EMOTIONS (New Attitude)

Without a doubt, emotions are the seedbed of our actions. There are many, many Scriptures that show how deep carnal passions bring about behaviors. The same Scriptures show that when the passions of the Holy Spirit permeate into our hearts we can expect dramatic changes that glorify God. The very idea of emotions is that our behavioral movement comes from the emotional fire behind it. The definition of emotion is E = ”Out” and Motion = ”Move”. Emotions flat out move us.

Everyone feels happiness, surprise, fear, sadness, disgust and anger at some time - these are six basic emotions. To experience the full range of emotions – from happiness to sadness, hate to love, excitement to boredom, empathy to apathy – is to experience life itself. And if we never experienced sadness or boredom, how could we relate to or appreciate happiness, joy or excitement? No doubt, emotions are powerful. If we ignore our emotional self, then we will pay a very heavy price.

· There are over 600 words in English to describe these emotions

· And we use 42 muscles in our faces to express them.

· Emotions are felt in the body.

o Our muscles tense or relax.

o Our blood vessels dilate or contract.

o When we feel emotionally, we also feel physically

o When we are frustrated and irritated our bodies release a chemical hormone called Cortisol. Cortisol causes people to gain weight in the abdominal area and lose muscle mass (am I the only one that thinks that that news frustrates me…which causes me to gain weight and lose muscle mass…which frustrates me…)

There is no complete list of human feelings, and it would be a formidable task to define what all of feeling is. But we know that feeling moves us…and that we enjoy being moved. They give us a sense of being alive. Without feeling we have not interest in things, no inclination to action. Feeling is essential to life.

If we are to be defeated in life’s spiritual pilgrimage, it is likely that negative emotions will play a dominant role in that discouragement. Satan is devastatingly effective in using the weapons of guilt, rejection, fear and embarrassment, grief, depression, loneliness and misunderstanding. Emotions and feelings are everywhere around us, and are a typical part of our every day.

Personal Greetings

Even our first inquiry as we greet people for the day is likely to be, “Hi, how are you feeling today?” or “How you doin’?” At any rate the interpretation of “How are you doing” reaches into the emotional condition of a person. Rarely will it be, “How are you thinking?” Feelings live on the front row of our lives like unruly children clamoring for attention. They presume on their justification in being whatever they are – unlike a thought, which by nature is open to challenge and invites the question “Why?” When someone “feels” emotionally, in a way it is counterintuitive to ask a challenging question to it. Feelings are generally the governing king because…well, “I feel that way!” Emotions present an absoluteness and projection of substantive reality.

Physical Systems – Biological Ramifications of Emotions

· Circulatory

· Muscular

· Digestive

· Respiratory

When we have an emotion, any emotion, it’s not something in our head only. Our entire body is involved – heart, blood vessels, muscles, lungs, skin, glands, stomach, brain chemicals – all the body’s systems are, to some extent, thrown into a different gear.

While emotions are generally “happy/sad” type stuff, the truth is that our emotions interface with most everything we do. We “feel” warm, hungry, an itch, and wet…all of which have associated emotions. All involve feeling and, moreover, require that the feeling be somehow measureable…and meet certain standards.

Did you know…

· Pizza - When you look at a piece of pizza on a commercial that your brain releases a chemical? It wasn’t just the pizza on TV but HOW we look at that pizza longingly. Our brains become saturated with chemicals, our bodies respond, our tongues salivate …AND we love the experience we get in the rush of the emotion associated with it.

· Sex – When a man sees any part of a woman with the smallest sense of emotional interest there is a firestorm of chemicals released in the brain from pure adrenaline to dopamine. Once the brain is saturated with this chemical it is very difficult to “will power” your way beyond temptation. The temptation transitional issue moves from being the image to the biological chemical that is released…it is the immediate drug of choice. So the addiction isn’t about robotic functionality but is the emotional experience.

· Church – Did you know that something as simple as the thought of church has biological implications? If a person has had negative experiences with church life they will have to overcome negative chemical reactions in the brain. If there is an emotion there is a chemical reaction. If a person experienced emotional worship in days gone by they will also have thoughts of church that trigger these same neurotransmitters.

Below is a small grouping of Neurotransmitters (also known as chemicals) and what they produce in our lives.

· DOPAMINE brings focus, positive ecstasy, exhilaration, arousal, sexy mood, craving and dependency.

· NOREPINEPHRINE, causes exhilaration, increased energy, release of epinephrine (adrenalin), and increased memory capacity.

· TESTOSTERONE, elicits strong sexual desire, and positive feelings of energy and well being. (Females have some of this hormone too, but not as much as males.)

· VASOPRESSIN, in this instance is released only in the male brain. It comes in a torrent resulting in strong feelings of bonding and attachment.

· OXYTOCIN, creates bonding, the “cuddle chemical”, triggers contractions at climax.

· SEROTONIN, that is released with climax yields deep feelings of calmness, satisfaction and release from stress and depression.

· ENDORPHIN – Along with Serotonin produce a euphoric feeling

Addictions

Our modern culture promotes an emphasis on spontaneity and enjoying the “rush” or the “buzz” of feeling. Abandonment to feeling, allowing oneself to be “carried away” by feeling, is actually sought by many, and on a regular basis. That is a testimony to our epidemic deadness of soul. People want to feel, and to feel strongly, and in the very nature of life they need to do so.

Feeling will then be sought for its own sake, and satisfaction in feeling alone always in turn demands stronger feeling. It cannot limit itself. This simple point is what explains the powerful grip of addiction, including the various forms of sexual perversion or addiction to praise. Addiction is a “feeling” phenomenon. The addict is one who, in one way or another, has given in to feeling of one kind or another and has placed it in the position of ultimate value in his or her life.

Addicts have inwardly conceded the final word to some feeling – emotion, sensation, or desire.

Keep in mind that these addictions aren’t to be superficially discussed with a finger pointing at the fragile emotional condition of the person with the addiction. The truth is that we are “wonderfully and fearfully made” with, biologically, a brain that can be managed to produce “drug type highs” and “stimulus” to support anything we give it to.

Behavior Driven By Emotion

If emotions engage all our physiological systems and releases the firestorm of doping chemicals in our brain you can imagine then why emotions are much more overwhelming than simply being a sterile label. To say, “I am angry” doesn’t just mean that academically I am experiencing an intellectual propensity toward reaction. No, to be angry means that every part of my body and brain is radically affected to powerfully compel my reaction…to move me to an action. So to bring significant changes in our behaviors requires that we deal with deeper issues than just trying to bear “discipline” and “will power” upon our rational vision.

We have to have a fundamental change in our emotions (the part that many are convinced is their personality roots…the roots that are perceived as impossible to change) if there will be intrinsic behavior change. A person can discipline areas of their lives but in a moment of emotional vulnerability a burst of all the physiological and neurological systems will overwhelm our best intentions and maladaptive behavior will happen. Those are the stories of thousands of Christians as they have pursued the Christ-like life.

Emotional Good News!

The great news is that just as this process promotes negative behavior (known so well by all of us) it can also be leveraged to experience intimately fulfilling and satisfying behaviors. Think of living with positive addictions and highly contented heart conditions. This is even more amazing when the positive addictive behavior is known to run down into what we now believe to be our fundamental personality. We are then free to live victorious lives.

Questions of Reflection:

When is the last time you experienced the full throws of emotion that…

· God is radically in love with you?

· That you are relationally and martially loved?

· That you are more than a conqueror in this life?

· That you can do anything (all things) through Christ?

· That you are favored?

· That you are content?

· That you are a 40 years old woman, a bit overweight, a few wrinkles and radiantly beautiful?

· That you are a 50 year old man, making half of what you dreamed but feel deeply successful in life?

CONTROLLED BEHAVIOR (Transformation – Good or Bad)

When we talk about things related to human behavior it is easy to see blurred lines between what is our fundamental personality and our changeable desires, appetites, styles and the emotions that are associated with them. So to begin, what is “personality” in human behavior?

Personality

The word "personality" originates from the Latin persona, which means mask. Significantly, in the theatre of the ancient Latin-speaking world, the mask was not used as a plot device to disguise the identity of a character, but rather was a convention employed to represent or typify that character.

· Openness/Closed, appreciation of art, emotion, adventure, ideas, curiosity, variety of experience, relish unconventional beliefs, creative, plain, straightforward, obvious over the complex, ambiguous, subtle, sensitive to beauty, suspicious, etc.

· Extraversion/Introversion, energy, positive/negative, urgency/laid back, tendencies of seeking stimulation in company of others, sociability, excitement seeking, impulsiveness, and positive, solitude and quiet, like drawing attention to themselves, action-oriented, like to talk, etc.

· Conscientiousness/Unaware, self-discipline, dutiful, aim for achievement, planned/spontaneous, responsible, etc.

· Neuroticism/Stability, angry, anxious, depressed, vulnerability, moody, easily stressed, etc.

· Agreeableness/Personal Interest Motivated, friendly, compassionate, competitive, outspoken, cooperative, suspicious, antagonistic, generous, helpful, believe the best in others, skepticism, etc.

More Behavioral Factors

· Productive / Destructive,

· Fulfilling / Unfulfilling

· Freedom/Addictions

· Responsive/Unresponsive in marriage

· Healthy/Unhealthy work

Our personality, as many have emotionally rejected, is not to be sacred, uncontested and unable of significant changes. While some things in our personality are rooted in our callings, God empowered grace giftings and instinctive Divine diagramming, MANY, MANY other things can and should be changed. Many personality things could be changed if we would be open to them.

· For instance, a child can be insecure and a bit shy who later matures through knowledge and experience and begins to become more extraverted, until with time they are able to be very successful in careers requiring extraversion.

· Another can be very moody and unpredictable in their late teens and early twenties only to come to a profound understanding of various Biblical truths. When these powerful truths connect with the heart they bring about fundamental change. Over time that person is known by others as consistently virtuous and happy.

The often used phrase, “That just isn’t my personality” is an excuse for circumventing a beautiful, fulfilling life! The excuse just doesn’t hold water. Many things in Scripture that God tells us to do may not fit our personality comfort zones but He expects the heart to change in obedience on those issues. Things like extraverted worship, material generosity, organizational order, open empathy without compromise, etc., etc. etc. are all non-negotiables that God intends for our personalities to change in.

If that is true, why are my impulses and deep-seated heart compulsions so “me?” That can be further understood as we look at the direct cause of “controlled” behavior, or behavior that it seems is so powerful and instinctive. The direct cause of this powerful, overwhelming behavior from anger outbursts to addictive excesses, is our emotions. We will look more at that in the next post.

Check out http://www.mylifepointe.com/audio-and-video-teachings-from-olathe-lifepointe-church.aspx to watch the video or listen to the audio of Revolution 2010 part 1 where I cover these issues in a worship service. Join the REVOLUTION!

Join the Revolution!

Jesus clearly came to give us life and to have that life with abundance, yet so many Christians and obviously non-devotees to Christ have come miserably short…even to the point of giving up hope. I mean when the promise of God fails you where do you appeal next?

In this series Revolution 2010 we are going to dedicate several weekends to giving experientially, biblically and clinically proven tools for revolutionizing your deepest hopes before God.

We will talk through how to concretely replace inappropriate emotions like …

· Anxieties, depression, habitual irritation, anger, and perfectionism.

· With peace, contentment, joy, gentleness, and self esteem.

We will also, using the same Biblical truths and structure, give concrete ways to

· Change behavior

· Break tough habits

· Overcome addictions

· Empower you to fulfill a revolutionary desire

These truths will finally give you the kind of interior fulfillment that you have wanted in your…

· Marriage

· Singleness

· Parenting

· Stage of Life

· Stage of career achievement

· Self-perception-acceptance

· Simply being you

Rom 12:1-2 AMP I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Clearly, God’s perfect will is to bring about transformation for your life. This verse tells us to not be “conformed” but to be “transformed.”

Conform – deals with an outside, disciplined change. Unfortunately this kind of change only works part-time. When you least expect it the old, negative ways leap from within and hold you captive.

Transformed - The Greek word Morphoo means, “the inward and real formation of the essential nature of a person.”

• Summorphizo = to have the same form as another, to shape a thing into a durable likeness
• Metamorphoo = metamorphosis - any complete change in appearance, character, circumstances, etc.

When true morphing happens, I don’t just do the things Jesus would have done; I find myself wanting to do them. The first goal of the spiritual life is the reclamation of the human race. The purpose of this message is to help you learn how to use every moment, every activity of life, for morphing purposes.

What is the makeup of human behavior? What makes us tick?

Is there any kind of science to human behavior? Is there a way to change behavior? According to our text Scripture above there is. These basic causes of behavior are consistent with psychological research but more authoritive, they are found as causes throughout Scripture. Anyone desiring to be free from anxiety, depression, perfectionism, anger or addiction will be amazed at how free they can really be. These sequential steps of behavior are below starting with the behavior and moving backward to each phases' cause.

Biblical Model of Human Behavior

Transformed Life = Controlled Behavior

New Attitude = Consuming Emotion

New Ideals = Compulsive Thoughts

God’s Will (Forged In Your Heart) = Core Beliefs

To join the video or audio teaching of inspiration and insight go to www.mylifepointe.com/media and look for the topic Revolution 2010. More will be coming to this blog in the way of further explanation and "change exercises" that will launch you into a revolution of radical living!

What is Grace?

2 Cor 8:1, 6-7, 9, 19 NKJV

1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:

6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us — see that you abound in this grace also.

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

19 and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind...

2 Corinthians 9:8 AMP And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].

Chapters eight and nine from Paul’s letter to the Corinthian Church specifically deal with the giving of financial offerings to the saints in Jerusalem. The saints in Macedonia had already given to this endeavor, and Paul was challenging the Corinthians to do the same. In his exhortation to them he says, “… see that ye abound in this grace also” (2 Corinthians 8:7). Paul notates several graces like faith, speech, knowledge, diligence, love and as well financial “graces.”

What is Grace?

So what is grace? Traditionally, we define grace as “unmerited favor.” Literally, grace is an empowerment or an enablement to fulfill the plan of God. Upon dealing with the “thorn in the flesh,” Paul prayed and heard these words from Jesus. They give great insight into grace.

2 Cor 12:7-10 NKJV And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This “strength” that is made perfect in weakness is translated from the Greek word “dunamis.” We derive our English word “dynamite” from “dunamis,” and it literally means “power.” It’s the same word translated as power throughout Scripture in reference to delivering demoniacs, healing bodies, the ability of God’s Word and so on. It gives the image of God’s absolute ability. Jesus said that “grace” is the ability or power of God!

When God extends His saving grace to us, it’s God’s power to save us (since we do not have the power to save ourselves). Grace is the power! Even our ministry offices are called “graces.” No matter how smart a person is, his/her natural abilities will always fall short when helping hurting people. It takes the power of God to truly minister to the needs of humanity, and He enables us to do so by His grace!