Bill Gates is the world's richest man. He is estimated to be worth more than 50 billion US dollars. Last year, Microsoft, the company he founded, earned more than 11 billion US dollars in revenue. Their main product, the Windows operating system, is used on almost all personal computers in the world. This control of a fundamental aspect of the communications technology is evidence of the globalization momentum of our time. And it presents a useful paradigm from which we can evaluate the ultimate purpose of this globalization phenomenon.
Bill Gates' success is unparalleled in his industry at this time. But his thrust and momentum stem from an internal human mechanism predating him. Throughout the ages, man has been driven by a desire to control the earth. The first efforts were aimed at conquering lands and nations. Then followed the enslavement, both physical and economic, of peoples in the conquered lands.
In recent times, we are seeing another expression of this spirit in efforts to control systems of the earth- communication systems, commercial systems, even political systems. Much has been written exploring the consequences of globalization and, in particular, it's effect upon small island nations like Trinidad and Tobago. But little has been written of the spiritual dimensions and the source and purpose of the energy driving those with the conquering spirit such as Christopher Columbus or Bill Gates.
There is an invisible quality encoded into man's spirit that drives him to "be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it." Genesis 1:28. This was the first command given to man immediately after creation, even prior to the directives regarding physical and spiritual food. It is this command which has motivated man's attempts to bring the earth to manageable and controllable proportions, resulting in inventions, systems and strategies to reduce barriers of distance, time and culture.
This human programming is not exclusive to the Bill Gateses of any era. It is available to all who will decode and ignite the divine mandate installed by God from the beginning of time. God, having declared this principle to man, also equipped man with the necessary resources to accomplish the task. The divine mandate to subdue the earth is accompanied by an internal creative energy which we see manifested today in this new level of global control. It has always been God's desire that man develop this latent ability to influence and order his environment. The present era of globalization is but part of this fulfillment.
The effects of globalization are obvious and far reaching. It removes the constraints of geography on social, commercial and personal interaction. With each dial of the telephone, each flick of the television and each click of a mouse, our boundaries expand. Internet chat rooms and video conferencing, once novel, are becoming as commonplace as the fax machine. Children from Port of Spain to Penal and from Chaguaramas to Charlotteville can now access information from around the globe. The way we work, the way we view our world and the way we think have been revolutionized.
Local companies are now compelled to compete against the world's best and can no longer hide inferior products behind the veil of consumer ignorance. It is a sobering reality, which many have faced bravely. Cable television also feeds an already bloated appetite for foreign goods, designer clothing, food and other luxuries. Added to this, are the social and moral standards being accessed and downloaded into our society which will certainly alter existing values, expectations and standards. For small developing nations which feel the force of this encroaching world system, a syndrome of vulnerability, insignificance and helplessness can develop.
The billion-dollar question is how do we survive and indeed thrive in the midst of this inevitable advance of other worlds into our own. If this trend is being propelled by an energy established in the earth at creation to fulfill some predetermined plan of God, why are there such negative consequences? What is God after and how is it being achieved through globalization?
The answer is clear. Globalization in all its dimensions provides a mechanism or platform for the establishment of God's plan and purpose for the whole earth. However, there are always attempts to oppose or distort divine plans. Hence the adverse effects of globalization must be expected. For just as the Internet makes the current and accurate speaking of God available worldwide, it also disseminates elements of depraved, defiled and degenerate lifestyles.
As a society, we cannot block global influences from reaching our shores. But we can be knowledgeable about the source and purpose of the advance. We too can tap into that energy to influence our lives by redefining our systems (personal, social, political, and economic) along accurate patterns ordained by God.
God's plan for human existence and His truth will be declared across the earth. The whole of the earth, its people and its systems are destined to be filled with the true knowledge of God. Isaiah 11:9. This is as inevitable as the next level of human civilization. And it will occur through the use of the current and future technology to impact the mentality, values and lifestyle of all people on a global scale.
God still waits for a people in the earth to demonstrate the true essence of humanity and return to an accurate relationship with Him. Globalization is but one element towards this end and Bill Gates one visible participant.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Our Brother's Keeper; Reprint from Jan 29, 2000
One of the early failures of the human race, following Adam's disobedience in the Garden of Eden and Cain's cold-blooded murder, jealousy and anger at God, was Cain's failure to be his brother's keeper.
God's question, "Where is Abel your brother?" was not simply about Abel's physical location (Genesis 4:9). God is all-knowing and knew that Abel was murdered. Rather the question was to establish a sense of accountability in Cain. Cain's retort "Am I my brother's keeper?" indicates that he intuitively knew that that was what God expected of him; that he be responsible for his brother.
This may be a new century and a new millennium, but in some ways we have not progressed far beyond the first generation from Adam.
The crises of our times - whether domestic violence, depraved acts of spite and hate or criminal acts by the very young, can all be connected to someone's failure to act as his brother's keeper, either on the victim's side or the perpetrator's side. This is not to downplay individual responsibility; Wrongdoers are responsible for their actions. Though family and community failures cannot bear the brunt of the blame, our nation's ills certainly are compounded when we fail to be our brother's keeper.
Being our brother's keeper demands that we step outside the realm of our own concerns and reach out to others without invitation. It also requires that we put aside our own fears of being rejected or of misjudging a situation; this is always a risk.
Sometimes, the need is obvious as with an alcoholic, a despondent friend or an unproductive employee. But often, those who silently suffer or are too weak to help themselves are most in need of a brother to look out for them.
Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 illustrates the characteristics of a brother. A Jew was attacked by robbers and left to die at the side of the road. Two Jews passed by without helping; one a priest who crossed away to the other side of the road. The other, a Levite, took a closer look, but did nothing. It was a Samaritan, someone a Jew would not associate with under ordinary circumstances, who stopped and helped.
This Samaritan ignored the external differences of race, ethnicity, culture, and color. He saw someone in need and gave of his resources and time. This is the pattern we must follow. Particularly in our diverse society, it is not enough to care for those of our group, whatever that group may be.
Our failure to look out for our brother is rebellion against God and what he expects of us as humans. God created us to engage in relationships. He created Adam to relate to him and created Eve to be a partner and companion to Adam. The quality of our lives is a function of the quality of our relationships. Successful relationships are built on love and caring. When we fail to develop relationships and insist on living within our personal cocoon, we are acting contrary to the Creator's intent.
As times change, our internal structures are still paramount with God. He will still ask of us "Where is your brother?" If we shrug our shoulders and turn our backs, we will be following in the footsteps of Cain who was forever marked by God for his selfishness, rebellion and recalcitrance.
Instead, we must determine that we will give God no cause to ask the question. We must demonstrate caring and concern for those with whom we come into contact, whether blood brothers or not. Someone's life may depend on our willingness to help.
God's question, "Where is Abel your brother?" was not simply about Abel's physical location (Genesis 4:9). God is all-knowing and knew that Abel was murdered. Rather the question was to establish a sense of accountability in Cain. Cain's retort "Am I my brother's keeper?" indicates that he intuitively knew that that was what God expected of him; that he be responsible for his brother.
This may be a new century and a new millennium, but in some ways we have not progressed far beyond the first generation from Adam.
The crises of our times - whether domestic violence, depraved acts of spite and hate or criminal acts by the very young, can all be connected to someone's failure to act as his brother's keeper, either on the victim's side or the perpetrator's side. This is not to downplay individual responsibility; Wrongdoers are responsible for their actions. Though family and community failures cannot bear the brunt of the blame, our nation's ills certainly are compounded when we fail to be our brother's keeper.
Being our brother's keeper demands that we step outside the realm of our own concerns and reach out to others without invitation. It also requires that we put aside our own fears of being rejected or of misjudging a situation; this is always a risk.
Sometimes, the need is obvious as with an alcoholic, a despondent friend or an unproductive employee. But often, those who silently suffer or are too weak to help themselves are most in need of a brother to look out for them.
Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 illustrates the characteristics of a brother. A Jew was attacked by robbers and left to die at the side of the road. Two Jews passed by without helping; one a priest who crossed away to the other side of the road. The other, a Levite, took a closer look, but did nothing. It was a Samaritan, someone a Jew would not associate with under ordinary circumstances, who stopped and helped.
This Samaritan ignored the external differences of race, ethnicity, culture, and color. He saw someone in need and gave of his resources and time. This is the pattern we must follow. Particularly in our diverse society, it is not enough to care for those of our group, whatever that group may be.
Our failure to look out for our brother is rebellion against God and what he expects of us as humans. God created us to engage in relationships. He created Adam to relate to him and created Eve to be a partner and companion to Adam. The quality of our lives is a function of the quality of our relationships. Successful relationships are built on love and caring. When we fail to develop relationships and insist on living within our personal cocoon, we are acting contrary to the Creator's intent.
As times change, our internal structures are still paramount with God. He will still ask of us "Where is your brother?" If we shrug our shoulders and turn our backs, we will be following in the footsteps of Cain who was forever marked by God for his selfishness, rebellion and recalcitrance.
Instead, we must determine that we will give God no cause to ask the question. We must demonstrate caring and concern for those with whom we come into contact, whether blood brothers or not. Someone's life may depend on our willingness to help.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Mentalities for the 21st Century - reprint from Oct 12, 1998
The world is in crisis. At all levels and in all countries, there is turmoil. The strong, industrialized nations are reeling under the weight of their international political and economic scandals. In the less developed countries, scarce resources are spread thinly across necessary social services. Natural disasters-hurricanes, floods and volcanoes place a heavy burden on already stretched treasuries. Ethnic conflicts and racial wars divide nations and peoples. International terrorists, rebel forces and drug tycoons penetrate peaceful lives causing death, destruction and horror. In the midst of this turbulent world in which we live, there is the Church.
To many, the Church is nothing more than an irrelevancy, a ritual, a group of fanatics, or an annual obligation. Churches have, in fact, provided spiritual guidance and direction to their members. Additionally, they have been the expression of society's conscience; they have fed the poor, housed the homeless, cared for the sick and elderly, and educated the young.
However, God expects more from His people. The Creator had a different concept in mind. The Church, the body of individuals committed to fulfilling God's purpose in the earth, was commanded to be salt and light. Matthew 5:13-16.
Salt is a preservative, a protector and an enhancer. Prior to the introduction of antibiotics, salt was applied to wounds to prevent poisons from invading living cells, thus preventing loss of limb and life. Salt is a barrier to foreign matter and creates an environment hostile to toxins. Salt is also necessary for cells to maintain the required balance of chemical charges. A deficiency results in a lethargic, weak and tired body. Also, when used to preserve food, salt combats the bacteria which produce decay and make food unfit for human consumption. As an enhancer, salt brings out the flavor in the food, combating blandness, and adding zest and taste.
The Church, as the Salt of the earth, is expected to have similar results when effectively applied. The people of God are to protect against the toxins and organisms which can destroy human life. Our presence is to enhance the quality of life bringing balance and energy, flavor and zest.
Light dispels darkness and the uncertainty, evil and fear that come with it. It reveals the hidden and unseen things which may trip and trap the unwary. Light brings clarity, provides brightness and generates heat.
The Church's role as the Light of the world is not to be limited to dispelling spiritual darkness and evil. There is darkness and lack of clarity in the physical and intellectual worlds, the economic and political worlds, the social and technological worlds. In short, darkness exists in all systems where there is confusion, ignorance, folly, deception, greed and misplaced priorities. God's people and principles are intended to illuminate all these world systems.
Both salt and light gain their value from their functions as well as their position. Salt has to be “in” a substance or matter in order to preserve and enhance. The Church as Salt must, therefore, penetrate the dense network of human activity. God's people cannot attempt to preserve segments of life through social, educational and health services and neglect other areas of human endeavor.
In addition, for light to be most visible, it must be displayed prominently. Similarly, the Church has to be at the center of all operations of the world, switched on and positioned like a city set on a hill, so that its illumination is unhindered and undistorted.
Government, businesses, families and communities all combine to create a network of circumstances which may result in employment or unemployment, wealth or poverty, peace or social unrest, health or sickness. However, traditional religious efforts tend to be focused on the negative end-products of human activity, as opposed to the core - the philosophies and systems of thinking which generate the lifestyles of the earth.
At this dawn of a new era, the earth is on a path of continuous change. Never before has so much in so short a space of time. As the systems of life are changing, the Salt and Light have become more important than before. Each new position brings new bacteria, new pollutants and new toxins to be counteracted and new deceptions and camouflages to be exposed.
To fulfill the mandate effectively, the people of God must enter arenas and platforms which traditionally may not have been associated with the Church. Indeed, it is only through a highly visible presence in the commercial, academic, social, political, and other worlds, that the true work of the Salt and the full impact of the Light will be realized.
This involvement must go beyond mere religious works. God's people must manifest balanced, enhanced, and accurate lifestyles. But before we can implement the rule and government of God in the systems of life, we must ensure that God is sovereign in our individual lives. Our internal character must be purified and spiritually polished. Our every thought and action must be empowered by the Holy Ghost and aimed at bringing glory to God.
In the midst of global economic turmoil - banking failures, stock market crashes, and crippling debt burdens, there is need for crisis intervention. The wisdom of this world has not brought us any closer to a state of equity and balance and thus the empowered Church must inject new wisdom to guide nations and economies.
As we advance into the next millennium, there is a need for intelligent analysis and dialogue on fundamental issues. The Word of God is a manual for all areas of life. As the Holy Ghost gives revelation, it is for the Church to apply this wisdom to building the accurate mentalities for enhanced lifestyles as we transit into the 21st century.
To many, the Church is nothing more than an irrelevancy, a ritual, a group of fanatics, or an annual obligation. Churches have, in fact, provided spiritual guidance and direction to their members. Additionally, they have been the expression of society's conscience; they have fed the poor, housed the homeless, cared for the sick and elderly, and educated the young.
However, God expects more from His people. The Creator had a different concept in mind. The Church, the body of individuals committed to fulfilling God's purpose in the earth, was commanded to be salt and light. Matthew 5:13-16.
Salt is a preservative, a protector and an enhancer. Prior to the introduction of antibiotics, salt was applied to wounds to prevent poisons from invading living cells, thus preventing loss of limb and life. Salt is a barrier to foreign matter and creates an environment hostile to toxins. Salt is also necessary for cells to maintain the required balance of chemical charges. A deficiency results in a lethargic, weak and tired body. Also, when used to preserve food, salt combats the bacteria which produce decay and make food unfit for human consumption. As an enhancer, salt brings out the flavor in the food, combating blandness, and adding zest and taste.
The Church, as the Salt of the earth, is expected to have similar results when effectively applied. The people of God are to protect against the toxins and organisms which can destroy human life. Our presence is to enhance the quality of life bringing balance and energy, flavor and zest.
Light dispels darkness and the uncertainty, evil and fear that come with it. It reveals the hidden and unseen things which may trip and trap the unwary. Light brings clarity, provides brightness and generates heat.
The Church's role as the Light of the world is not to be limited to dispelling spiritual darkness and evil. There is darkness and lack of clarity in the physical and intellectual worlds, the economic and political worlds, the social and technological worlds. In short, darkness exists in all systems where there is confusion, ignorance, folly, deception, greed and misplaced priorities. God's people and principles are intended to illuminate all these world systems.
Both salt and light gain their value from their functions as well as their position. Salt has to be “in” a substance or matter in order to preserve and enhance. The Church as Salt must, therefore, penetrate the dense network of human activity. God's people cannot attempt to preserve segments of life through social, educational and health services and neglect other areas of human endeavor.
In addition, for light to be most visible, it must be displayed prominently. Similarly, the Church has to be at the center of all operations of the world, switched on and positioned like a city set on a hill, so that its illumination is unhindered and undistorted.
Government, businesses, families and communities all combine to create a network of circumstances which may result in employment or unemployment, wealth or poverty, peace or social unrest, health or sickness. However, traditional religious efforts tend to be focused on the negative end-products of human activity, as opposed to the core - the philosophies and systems of thinking which generate the lifestyles of the earth.
At this dawn of a new era, the earth is on a path of continuous change. Never before has so much in so short a space of time. As the systems of life are changing, the Salt and Light have become more important than before. Each new position brings new bacteria, new pollutants and new toxins to be counteracted and new deceptions and camouflages to be exposed.
To fulfill the mandate effectively, the people of God must enter arenas and platforms which traditionally may not have been associated with the Church. Indeed, it is only through a highly visible presence in the commercial, academic, social, political, and other worlds, that the true work of the Salt and the full impact of the Light will be realized.
This involvement must go beyond mere religious works. God's people must manifest balanced, enhanced, and accurate lifestyles. But before we can implement the rule and government of God in the systems of life, we must ensure that God is sovereign in our individual lives. Our internal character must be purified and spiritually polished. Our every thought and action must be empowered by the Holy Ghost and aimed at bringing glory to God.
In the midst of global economic turmoil - banking failures, stock market crashes, and crippling debt burdens, there is need for crisis intervention. The wisdom of this world has not brought us any closer to a state of equity and balance and thus the empowered Church must inject new wisdom to guide nations and economies.
As we advance into the next millennium, there is a need for intelligent analysis and dialogue on fundamental issues. The Word of God is a manual for all areas of life. As the Holy Ghost gives revelation, it is for the Church to apply this wisdom to building the accurate mentalities for enhanced lifestyles as we transit into the 21st century.
Friday, January 1, 2010
The Dawn of a New Time - reprint from Jan 1, 2000
Today is the dawn of a new time in the history of man and of the earth - a new year, a new century and a new millennium. No doubt many will give in to the annual human tendency to reflect on the past and contemplate the future on this New Year’s Day. Notwithstanding the hype that surrounds the new millennium, self-evaluation and analysis is good, providing it motivates us to change.
Some may have celebrated and partied to ring in this new millennium, but today we must all face the stark realities of life. For many, that reality may be so bleak that there is no cause for celebration. Indeed, unless we determine to make a change and follow a proven pattern for success, our yesterdays will roll into today and into tomorrow with no distinctive difference save the writing of 2000 instead of 1999.
Thousands of years ago it was also the dawn of a new time. At the outset, the environment looked totally bleak. When God surveyed the earth before Creation, it was empty, without any form and covered in total darkness (Genesis 1:2). There was nothing celebrating or reflecting the creativity and greatness of God. The earth was like a wasteland. But when God was finished with the wasteland, it was nothing like it was before. Everything had changed and the new was much better than the old (Genesis 1:31).
Today, many may feel like they are in a personal wasteland, where their lives fail to accurately reflect their true God-given potential. In order to change our wasteland into an Eden, we must resolve to bring shape, structure and light to our life, just as God did to the earth in Genesis.
The first necessary element is the presence of the Spirit of God which hovered over the waters before Creation (Genesis 1:2). In the midst of the chaos, disorder, and emptiness of life, God is actually present. In every wilderness experience, he is there. Wherever circumstances appear less than ideal, dissatisfying, frustrating or inadequate, the Spirit of God hovers in the background waiting for us to wake up, enlist his help and begin to create the environment we desire.
It is the Spirit of God who enables us to envision a future in alignment with God’s plan and to fulfill our destiny. Without him, we may seek to create and attain a future that has the appearance of fulfillment, but disappoints us in the end.
Creating light and eliminating darkness must be the first goal, just as God created light first. Darkness prevents clear sight of the way ahead and of the creative possibilities. Obstacles in the dark become opportunities with the right perspective and vision.
With the powerful combination of creative words and creative action, the future can take on a shape much different to the present.
Creating a better future is not a haphazard act. There was order, prioritization and structure to the Creation in Genesis. We are not told the details of God’s planning process, but the complexity of the universe and of life could not have occurred as a casual act. Similarly, if we desire a future better than our present, we need to proceed with a well-thought out, strategic and intelligent plan.
This year, after analyzing our lives, we can make the same superficial resolutions to end habits and change behaviors. Or, we can access the Creator and Catalyst who existed from the beginning of all time and begin to create fundamental changes to the form and structure of our lives.
Resolutions are forgotten within months. The creative changes that God inspires last for lifetimes and millenniums.
Some may have celebrated and partied to ring in this new millennium, but today we must all face the stark realities of life. For many, that reality may be so bleak that there is no cause for celebration. Indeed, unless we determine to make a change and follow a proven pattern for success, our yesterdays will roll into today and into tomorrow with no distinctive difference save the writing of 2000 instead of 1999.
Thousands of years ago it was also the dawn of a new time. At the outset, the environment looked totally bleak. When God surveyed the earth before Creation, it was empty, without any form and covered in total darkness (Genesis 1:2). There was nothing celebrating or reflecting the creativity and greatness of God. The earth was like a wasteland. But when God was finished with the wasteland, it was nothing like it was before. Everything had changed and the new was much better than the old (Genesis 1:31).
Today, many may feel like they are in a personal wasteland, where their lives fail to accurately reflect their true God-given potential. In order to change our wasteland into an Eden, we must resolve to bring shape, structure and light to our life, just as God did to the earth in Genesis.
The first necessary element is the presence of the Spirit of God which hovered over the waters before Creation (Genesis 1:2). In the midst of the chaos, disorder, and emptiness of life, God is actually present. In every wilderness experience, he is there. Wherever circumstances appear less than ideal, dissatisfying, frustrating or inadequate, the Spirit of God hovers in the background waiting for us to wake up, enlist his help and begin to create the environment we desire.
It is the Spirit of God who enables us to envision a future in alignment with God’s plan and to fulfill our destiny. Without him, we may seek to create and attain a future that has the appearance of fulfillment, but disappoints us in the end.
Creating light and eliminating darkness must be the first goal, just as God created light first. Darkness prevents clear sight of the way ahead and of the creative possibilities. Obstacles in the dark become opportunities with the right perspective and vision.
With the powerful combination of creative words and creative action, the future can take on a shape much different to the present.
Creating a better future is not a haphazard act. There was order, prioritization and structure to the Creation in Genesis. We are not told the details of God’s planning process, but the complexity of the universe and of life could not have occurred as a casual act. Similarly, if we desire a future better than our present, we need to proceed with a well-thought out, strategic and intelligent plan.
This year, after analyzing our lives, we can make the same superficial resolutions to end habits and change behaviors. Or, we can access the Creator and Catalyst who existed from the beginning of all time and begin to create fundamental changes to the form and structure of our lives.
Resolutions are forgotten within months. The creative changes that God inspires last for lifetimes and millenniums.
Resolution - reprint from Jan 2, 1999
As the year winds down, many look with eager expectancy to 1999. A new year is a time of fresh hope and possibilities. New dreams are created and new goals are set. The traditional New Year's Resolution fever begins to rise as some aim to lose weight, save more, study harder or be a better parent or spouse. Always, the aspiration is admirable. Invariably, the effect is short term.
Human beings are complex creatures whose internal workings, motivations and desires have fascinated mankind throughout the ages. In an effort to control these internal operations and improve ourselves, many have engaged in prolonged fasting and abstinence, seclusion from human contact and extreme intellectualism. Whatever the approach, there is something in us that recognizes that we are imperfect as we are and that desires a better self.
We are made up of a physical natural body, which we all see and touch. Then there is the soul, which comprises the mind, will, intellect, and emotions. The soul defines our character and personality. Thirdly, we have a spirit, that part of us that relates to God and that continues to exist after our physical body dies.
There is a divine order to a well functioning and balanced human being. The spirit is to lead and direct the soul and the body. The body is the house of the spirit and the mind. Our efforts at improving our human life must be focused on our human parts in the order of priority.
Upgrade and revitalize the inhabitants, and the house will begin to reflect the renewed inhabitants. A goal of losing weight or exercising targets the body. If diligently pursued, it will benefit the health and well being of the house. The secret of success will depend on the ability to stick to a daily routine and a plan developed with reason, common sense and reality.
Where the motivation is only an improved body to fit into an undersized Carnival costume, we are ignoring the value of enhanced spiritual and psychological health. The effect will be as useful as painting a house, while the foundation and interior are allowed to decay.
Becoming a better parent or spouse or saving more targets the soul. Again, if diligently pursued, one can be motivated by reason and emotion to try to be a better person. But the human will, as powerful as it is, cannot fully achieve meaningful human development. The mind and the will have to be directed towards a higher standard that can continue to provide direction when the pressures and demands of life set in.
The way to a truly reformed life is not through annual resolutions focused on improving the body or the mind. The focus must be on the spirit. When the spirit is correctly calibrated and in a place of leadership over the body and the soul, there will be a true change towards lifestyle that approaches the divine order the Creator intended.
To ignore God in the pursuit of a better life is to deceive ourselves. He alone can provide the correct blueprint and standard for enhanced living. Once our spirit is reconnected to God, the exciting journey to new improved life really begins. The spirit is then empowered to direct the energies of the mind in accordance with the divine plan using the techniques and principles in the Life Manual-the Word of God.
There are principles that can be applied to achieve the traditional New Year's Resolutions such as increased savings, economy and thrift (Proverbs 14:23; 24:27). There are standards and patterns for parenting and for improved friendships and relationships. There are examples of hardworking students who outshone their peers and amazed their teachers (Daniel 1:17,20; Luke 3: 40- 47). There is advice for controlling appetite and wisely using time and resources.
In short, there is a wisdom for life. And there is a surer way to success. It is through a reborn spirit, with a renewed mind and a controlled body.
Human beings are complex creatures whose internal workings, motivations and desires have fascinated mankind throughout the ages. In an effort to control these internal operations and improve ourselves, many have engaged in prolonged fasting and abstinence, seclusion from human contact and extreme intellectualism. Whatever the approach, there is something in us that recognizes that we are imperfect as we are and that desires a better self.
We are made up of a physical natural body, which we all see and touch. Then there is the soul, which comprises the mind, will, intellect, and emotions. The soul defines our character and personality. Thirdly, we have a spirit, that part of us that relates to God and that continues to exist after our physical body dies.
There is a divine order to a well functioning and balanced human being. The spirit is to lead and direct the soul and the body. The body is the house of the spirit and the mind. Our efforts at improving our human life must be focused on our human parts in the order of priority.
Upgrade and revitalize the inhabitants, and the house will begin to reflect the renewed inhabitants. A goal of losing weight or exercising targets the body. If diligently pursued, it will benefit the health and well being of the house. The secret of success will depend on the ability to stick to a daily routine and a plan developed with reason, common sense and reality.
Where the motivation is only an improved body to fit into an undersized Carnival costume, we are ignoring the value of enhanced spiritual and psychological health. The effect will be as useful as painting a house, while the foundation and interior are allowed to decay.
Becoming a better parent or spouse or saving more targets the soul. Again, if diligently pursued, one can be motivated by reason and emotion to try to be a better person. But the human will, as powerful as it is, cannot fully achieve meaningful human development. The mind and the will have to be directed towards a higher standard that can continue to provide direction when the pressures and demands of life set in.
The way to a truly reformed life is not through annual resolutions focused on improving the body or the mind. The focus must be on the spirit. When the spirit is correctly calibrated and in a place of leadership over the body and the soul, there will be a true change towards lifestyle that approaches the divine order the Creator intended.
To ignore God in the pursuit of a better life is to deceive ourselves. He alone can provide the correct blueprint and standard for enhanced living. Once our spirit is reconnected to God, the exciting journey to new improved life really begins. The spirit is then empowered to direct the energies of the mind in accordance with the divine plan using the techniques and principles in the Life Manual-the Word of God.
There are principles that can be applied to achieve the traditional New Year's Resolutions such as increased savings, economy and thrift (Proverbs 14:23; 24:27). There are standards and patterns for parenting and for improved friendships and relationships. There are examples of hardworking students who outshone their peers and amazed their teachers (Daniel 1:17,20; Luke 3: 40- 47). There is advice for controlling appetite and wisely using time and resources.
In short, there is a wisdom for life. And there is a surer way to success. It is through a reborn spirit, with a renewed mind and a controlled body.
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