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Gary Patton

God's Incredible & Unfathomable Love For All Wo(men) In Predestination - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

bible romans predestination trials scripture evangelism theology religion

shared by Gary Patton on 28 Nov 11 - No Cached
  • Romans 8:28-39
  • For I am convinced that neither (AE)death, nor life, nor (AF)angels, nor principalities, nor (AG)things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from (AH)the love of God, which is (AI)in Christ Jesus our Lord.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 18 May 12
       
      WOW, eh! And this promise comes as the icing on the cake of those in verses 31-37!
  • all things work together for good
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 18 May 12
       
      Either wording works for me as a guarantee that God's "got my back", regardless of what he allows to "come down the track", plus He will work everything to "my best"! How about you?
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • Romans 8:28-39
  • Romans 8:28-39
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 18 May 12
       
      God's Incredible & Unfathomable Love For All Wo(men) Romans 8:29-30, in the context of the entire passage of verses 28-39, is the New Covenant's clearest statement of what theologians call the "Doctrine of Predestination". I will outline one position on this controversial and emotionally-charged word below. Predestination is a highly contentious word both inside and outside the organizational church. This contention flows almost completely from how one defines the word. The promise tucked inside of verse 28 is also a fantastic one as I note in the e-Sticky Note on that verse. Your heavenly Father starts by telling you how He handles it when we screw up. Then finally nearer the end of the passage, God explains, using an incredible metaphor, how much He loves all humankind, irrespective of their current state of "election", and without us having to earn His love in any way, shape or form. gfp (2012- 05-05 )
  • What then shall we say to these things? (L)If God is for us, who is against us?
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 18 May 12
       
      As also confirmed in Verse 33, no person or being in this world nor in the spirit realm can condemn God's "elect", at any time nor in any way. This is God's promise here regardless of his/her character, or sin, or current level of their conformity to Jesus' image. The fantastic promises regarding the breadth, depth and height of God's unfailing and unending love for us, outlined in verses 32-39 below, are NOT dependent on our loving God or even seeking Him, first.
  • Who will bring a charge against (O)God’s elect? (P)God is the one who justifies;
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 18 May 12
       
      As confirmed in Verse 31, no person or being in this world nor in the spirit realm can condemn God's "elect", at any time nor in any way. This is God's promise here regardless of the elect person's character, or sin, or current level of their conformity to Jesus' image.
  • New American Standard Bible (NASB)
  • God causes (A)all things to work together for good to those who love God
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 18 May 12
       
      Followers of Jesus have this incredible promise from their heavenly Father God to depend on when confronted with any and every trial in their lives ...no matter how dis-stressing! It's a fantastic encourager during tough times and a wonderful companion to the promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13 at http://diigo.com/0jmgy . Don't let anyone try to convince you of the lie that you have to love God first and seek Him before He will save you. The Bible says in Romans 3:3 that "no one seeks God". The only thing you need to do to know that you know you're saved is outlined simply in Romans 10:9-10 at http://diigo.com/0lk6j and 1 John 4:15-17 at http://diigo.com/0qe80 .
  • those who are (B)called according to His purpos
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 18 May 12
       
      Here is another clear promise of the surety of a Jesus Follower's salvation in Christ and the truth of the doctrine that we are "once saved and always saved". Or guaranteed salvation is also promised in John 10:22-30 at http://diigo.com/0jv8q, Philippians 1:6 at http://diigo.com/0lzi8 as well as here at Romans 8:28-39 at http://diigo.com/0lc07 . Please never forget that God elected those He has "predestined" to spend eternity with Him now and in the life after this one as it says in verses 29-30 immediately below. This predestined election applies regardless of one's current state of conformity to Jesus' image. God loves all his creation, especially we humans, more than we can ever understand in this life. Incredibly, your heavenly Father picked His elect for salvation before we were ever born. He did so at the beginning of time. And He did it pre-knowing we would be sinners and hate Him as it says in Romans 5:8 at http://diigo.com/0mphg plus elsewhere in the Bible.
  • those whom He (C)foreknew, He also (D)predestined to become (E)conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the (F)firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He (G)predestined, He also (H)called; and these whom He called, He also (I)justified; and these whom He justified, He also (J)glorified.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 18 May 12
       
      Followers of Jesus have this incredible promise from their heavenly Father God to depend on when confronted with any and every trial in their lives ...no matter how dis-stressing! It's a fantastic encourager during tough times and a wonderful companion to the promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13 at http://diigo.com/0jmgy . Don't let anyone try to convince you of the lie that you have to love God first and seek Him before He will save you. The Bible says in Romans 3:3 that "no one seeks God". The only thing you need to do to know that you know you're saved is outlined simply in Romans 10:9-10 at http://diigo.com/0lk6j and 1 John 4:15-17 at http://diigo.com/0qe80 . e-Sticky Note #1 on Verse 28 "those who are called" Here is another clear promise of the surety of a Jesus Follower's salvation in Christ and the truth of the doctrine that we are "once saved and always saved". Or guaranteed salvation is also promised in John 10:22-30 at http://diigo.com/0jv8q, Philippians 1:6 at http://diigo.com/0lzi8 as well as here at Romans 8:28-39 at http://diigo.com/0lc07 . Please never forget that God elected those He has "predestined" to spend eternity with Him now and in the life after this one as it says in verses 29-30 immediately below. This predestined election applies regardless of one's current state of conformity to Jesus' image. God loves all his creation, especially we humans, more than we can ever understand in this life. Incredibly, your heavenly Father picked His elect for salvation before we were ever born. He did so at the beginning of time. And He did it pre-knowing we would be sinners and hate Him as it says in Romans 5:8 at http://diigo.com/0mphg plus elsewhere in the Bible. e-Sticky Note on Verse 29-30 Predestination mentioned here is a key part, some would say the most, key part, of the theology (beliefs about God) of those people who call themselves 'Calvinists' or sometimes people of the "Reformed Tradition". For these and other folks who reject bo
  • Gary Patton on 28 Nov 11
     
    Romans 8:29-30, in the context of the passage from Romans 8:28-39, is the New Covenant clearest statment of what theologians call "Predestination" ...that God elects one some people to spend eternity with Him and the rest will be separated from him.
Gary Patton

The Great Commission is For ALL Believers - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

matthew jesus Great Commission scripture gospel evangelism

shared by Gary Patton on 11 Jan 12 - No Cached
  • Matthew 28:18-20
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 04 Aug 12
       
      Christian: Jesus' (Yeshua's) Great Commission contains a confusing translation. Matthew 28:18-20 is what many Christians call Jesus' "Great Commission". It is the last command your Saviour and Lord left with you if you are His. The Great Commission is NOT a command to convert others NOR for professionals only. It simply says that Jesus Followers must share Jesus' love in their own way as they are led by Holy Spirit to let Him do the R-E-A-L work (Relational-Engaging-Authentic-Loving & Life-giving) ...as Jesus lives His life out through His Followers. You'll discover that the poor translation, as others would call it is explained in my Note on Verse 19. It has led many into believing something that Jesus (Yeshua) NEVER said. This mistranslation, I believe, has negativity impacted the sharing of His love with Jesus Followers' neighbours.
  • All authority has been given to Me
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 04 Aug 12
       
      Jesus is the ONLY One who builds His Kingdom here on earth as He says here. A Jesus Follower does NOT convert ...anyone. Jesus, in the person of Holy Spirit living in you, will draw to Himself those He brings across your path that He wants to save as He makes clear in John 15: 5 at http://diigo.com/0jv2h . And if what you are doing seems like hard work, stop, because you're probably doing something wrong, e.g., not prayed for the person by name sufficiently, invested quality time in the person, nor built enough trust ...or you have the wrong heart about sharing Jesus.
  • make disciples
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 04 Aug 12
       
      Jesus Followers are not to convert others! We are to let Jesus do it by living His life out through us as we invest time in others and share His love with them. A Jesus Follower's real role is to be "a discipler"! A discipler acts like a farmer. S(he) simply plants, waters, weeds and, then, collects the harvest given to them by Holy Spirit. But instead of sticking your crop in a barn or building, a holding tank most Christians call "the church" and turning them over to paid professionals, Jesus says clearly that you are to help your disciple grow. You are to be a support to Holy Spirit Who is "the Sanctifier" of every disciple that He allows you to protect and assist until they reasonably mature and "grow out" into the world. Plus, you are commanded to do so until you have assisted your disciple to be ready to reproduce him/herself by "mirroring" Jesus to another and reproducing themselves by letting Jesus live is life out through them ...as you modeled for them and taught them to do. This simple process God designed as His "Plan 'A'" to be a constantly repeating one that each Jesus Follower performs as s(he0 is going along where God has planted them at that time ...until Jesus returns or takes them home. It's called "spiritual multiplication". And Jesus has NO "Plan B'"! And yes, with prayerful practise, you can work with more than one Disciple at a time.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • o therefore
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 04 Aug 12
       
      While the common, traditional translation of the King James Version (KJV) of the Christian Bible, plus many more modern translations uses the word, there is NO action verb "go" in verse 19 in the original Greek. The NASB alternate translation at (a) below is a better and more accurate rendering of the Greek. But, it still can be misunderstood to mean "Go over there" somewhere. For even better and more accurate clarity, I prefer: "As you are going along, make disciples ..." This rendering is best because it makes clearest that the Great Commission is the calling and commanded mandate of every person who has Holy Spirit living in them ...NOT just paid, professional preachers, pastors and evangelists... as too many Christians believe. For further documentation of the impact of the poor translation, here is what another Greek expert says: * "The sole imperative and central activity in the Great Commission as recorded in Matthew 28 is to " Make Disciples." "Go," could be translated " going" or "as you go," but takes any imperatival force it may have from the main verb. * "Baptizing" and "teaching" are also participles-not "decisions" or "converts" or "believers" or "acceptors," but "disciples." It goes without saying that the decision-making, conversion, belief, and acceptance are all involved, but the objective of the Great Commission is that we Make Disciples (followers, adherents, learners, and students) of the Lord Jesus. * Hesselgrave, David J., "Scripture and strategy: The Use of the Bible in Postmodern Church and Mission", Pages 106-07 John A. Finton makes a powerful case in his article at http://diigo.com/0qqdf for a poor translation in Matthew 28:19. Because of my evangelism experience, I believe this inappropriate translation has incorrectly preconditioned many English-speaking members of the Body of Christ since at least the publishing of the KJV.
  • Gary Patton on 11 Jan 12
     
    Matthew 28:18-20 is what many Christians call Jesus' "Great Commission". It's the last command your Saviour and Lord left with you if you are His. The Great Commission is NOT a command to convert others NOR for professionals only. It says just share Jesus' love in your own way as led and let Holy Spirit do the R-E-A-L work (Relational-Engaging-Authentic-Loving & Life-giving) ...as Jesus lives His life out through you. gfp (2011-09-18)
Gary Patton

"How to Live A Life Lived & Finished Well" - Bible Gateway - 0 views

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bible scripture scripture interpretation timothy lifestyle

shared by Gary Patton on 27 Dec 12 - No Cached
  • 1 Timothy 6:11-13
  • Gary Patton on 27 Dec 12
     
    "A Life Lived Well" 1 Timothy 6:11-13 clarifies how Jesus would have His Followers lead a life of passion and perseverance as they fulfill the destiny he prepared for them before the beginning of time as outlined at ? by letting our Lord live His life out through us as it says at
Gary Patton

Reinterpreting the Great Commission - 0 views

www.boundless.org/...a0001678.cfm

bible scripture interpretation scripture evangelism great commission Jesus matthew mark luke john

shared by Gary Patton on 03 Mar 12 - Cached
  • Missional Discipleship: Reinterpreting the Great Commission
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 03 Mar 12
       
      Jonathan Dodson adds exciting new dimensions to the standard interpretations of Jesus' "Great Commission" in the article. It is the first of two parts. gfp (2012-03-03)
  • In evangelical subculture the ubiquity of the Great Commission is matched by the poverty of its interpretation.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 03 Mar 12
       
      The only greater "poverty" is its lack of application in their lives by so-called Christians. In North America, a too-common and oft-heard phrase exchanged between so-called Christians is: "I'd din't know you were a Christian!" "Lord, please forgive us although we know what we're doing! gfp"
  • The OT commission, frequently referred to as the creation or cultural mandate, was issued by God before the Fall of humanity, emphasizing creative activity with the following verbs: be fruitful, multiply, rule, and subdue (Gen 1.27-28).2 By producing more creators who rule and subdue the elements of the earth,
  • ...30 more annotations...
  • A surface reading of these Old and New Testament texts places them at odds with one another.
  • These impoverished readings call for reinterpretation, one that that allows both Genesis and the Gospels to speak.
  • we will be challenged to understand and embrace discipleship as more that "spiritual disciplines" or an evangelistic program.
  • following after Jesus that requires redemptive engagement not just with souls but with creation and culture.
  • the command is to make disciples of all nations not from all nations.
  • The Great Commission is not about soul-extraction, to remove the disciple from his culture,
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 03 Mar 12
       
      To often in the past ...and still..., so-called Christian Missionaries who "went" and "go" into other cultures try to shape their disciples in the image of the Missionary's culture, i.e. they "clothed the naked", literally, instead of providing what's need in the moment by the individuals they encounter which is what Jesus meant. 
  • the many-splendored new humanity of Christ.
  • Where Matthew emphasizes the action of making distinctive disciples, Mark stresses the importance of preaching to all creation.
  • When Jesus used the word "preach" he did not mean converse. The Greek word for preach always carries a sense of urgency and gravity, as though what is to be proclaimed is of great importance
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 03 Mar 12
       
      A better translation of the Greek, that captures it's sense and is not intentionally designed by the translator to reinforce "Sunday morning church activity", is "herald"! 
  • Paul perceives himself as an announcer of a worldly Christ-centered gospel,
  • While this worldly gospel saves, it also condemns.
  • For some it brings life; for others it brings death, but all are to be given the opportunity to be written into the story of God's redemption of all creation.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 03 Mar 12
       
      This is not a particularly "Calvinistic statement, i.e., those saved are pre-ordained (Romans 8:28) but probably accurate because we'll never know 'till we get to heaven whether Holy Spirit used us to touch the "right" people and bring them "one step closer to Jesus". 
  • Humanity was charged with the task of caring for the earth and creating culture, making the uninhabitable habitable.
  • Jesus preached a worldly gospel, a restorative message that put the creation project back on track. His glorified, resurrection body is clearly proof of the new creation to come.
  • Jesus told those who believe that they will be given power to heal the sick, restore the demon-possessed, and to speak new languages (Mk. 16:17-18). This worldly gospel is for the redemption and renewal of the earth, the body, the heart, the mind, and the cultures of the world. It is a saving message that rescues people from their unbelief, not their world,
  • we are called to preach "repentance and forgiveness of sins." A social gospel will not suffice.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 03 Mar 12
       
      And a "social gospel" approach is also not excluded.
  • What does it mean to be "witnesses of all these things"? Well, at the very least it means sharing Jesus' self-sacrificing offer of forgiveness,
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 03 Mar 12
       
      And witnessing includes, I suggest, the practical and explanatory sharing of the blessings that have enriched the life of the witnesser as a result of their forgiveness and Jesus coming to live His life out through them by sharing what Christians call "their testimony". 
  • The problem with many of our stories is that they contain all spirit and very little flesh.
  • People want to touch redemption, which means they need to see resurrection power in our personal struggles.
  • The stories we tell should boast of Jesus' death and resurrection, of his forgiveness of sin and of his restoration of sinners — reconciled families and marriages, restored and housed homeless, renewed life among AIDS orphans, and so on.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 03 Mar 12
       
      And make sure these resurrection-power stories, if not about yourself, are about other you KNOW personally ...otherwise they can be considered so much fluff!
  • Whereas the previous gospel writers emphasized Jesus' command to make distinctive disciples, preach a worldly gospel, and witness a fleshly Jesus, John stresses Jesus sending his disciples.
  • According to John Piper, we are either goers, senders, or disobedient, but according to Jesus we are all the sent.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 03 Mar 12
       
      And I agree with Jesus. It's clear notwithstanding Mr. Piper's opinion, that Jesus clearly tells all his followers that we are to "go along", i.e., herald Jesus where He plants us". It's not wrong to help a Brother or Sister "go" somewhere else but Jesus never said or giving money to a so-called missionary could replace His Followers heralding Him where they are in the moment".
  • All followers of Jesus are called to live as missionaries in their culture
  • Our paradigm for living a sent life, a missionary life, is the sending of the Son by the Father.
  • So, within reason we should take on the trappings of our culture in order to contextually relate the gospel.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 03 Mar 12
       
      And for this reason, it's not wrong to accompany your work colleagues after work for a "drink" at a local strip club ...just don't oggle the strippers or get drunk! We can only earn their trust so they'll "as the reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15-17) when we're not the typical judgemental Christian or pushy Televangelist-type they have been warned to avoid by those judged by those folks.
  • It leads us to immerse ourselves into the humanity of our neighborhoods and cities in order relate the gospel to people and their needs.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 03 Mar 12
       
      And this doesn't mean that we're more spiritual if we leave our middle-class lifestyle and neighbourhood and move into an inner-city slum or evangelize street people on weekends unless Holy Spirit makes clear that role is His will for you at that point in your life!
  • The power of missional living does not spring from cultural savvy or social sensitivity; it requires the otherworldly, utterly personal power of the Holy Spirit. Only the Spirit of God can make men new.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 03 Mar 12
       
      Amen to that!! A Lone Ranger Christian carries a notch-less gun in his "heralding holster". 
  • The "good news" of Genesis 1-2 is that God created all things to be enjoyed, managed, cultivated, and recreated by humanity.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 03 Mar 12
       
      And applying 1 Corinthians 6:12 is the wise person's context for ALL her/his behaviour... not just the limited ones involving "food" and "sex" mentioned by Paul in the immediately surrounding verses of this passage.
  • This fruitful multiplication continues both physically and spiritually through the reproducing ministry of missional disciples, who increase in number and good works (Acts 6:7; Col. 1:6, 10). These good works include ruling and subduing creation through the careful, creative arrangement of the elements of the earth into art, technology, infrastructure etc. for the flourishing of humanity.
  • Retaining the cultural impulse of Genesis, the Gospels call us to a missional discipleship that entails creation care, cultural engagement, social action, and gospel proclamation. Missional disciples will not content themselves by preaching a culturally irrelevant, creation indifferent, resurrection neglecting message.
Gary Patton

"God Confirms A Christian's "Assurance of Salvation'" - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

bible scripture john salvation esus Yeshua Isa Islam islamization testimony

shared by Gary Patton on 21 Jun 12 - No Cached
  • 1 John 5:9-13
  • And the testimony is this, that God has given us (E)eternal life, and (F)this life is in His Son. 12 (G)He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
  • These things I have written to you who (I)believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have (J)eternal life.
  • Gary Patton on 21 Jun 12
     
    "God Confirms A Christian's "Assurance of Salvation'" In 1 john 5:9-13, Holy Spirit spells out clearly that the salvation of a Jesus Follower is secure because of what our Saviour and Master did on His cross. There He paid the full penalty for our sin nature and sins by giving His sinless life as a substitute for us. God proved His acceptance of Jesus' "offering for sin" by raising Jesus from the dead. Jesus' resurrection was documented at the time by over 500 witnesses many of whom were martyred for their belief in what He did ...without recanting their faith in what they had seen with their own eyes. gfp (2012-06-21)
Gary Patton

Sin Management: Bad Idea! | Viral Jesus - 0 views

thejesusvirus.org/...sin-management-bad-idea

sin jesus christianity christian

shared by Gary Patton on 19 Mar 12 - No Cached
  • Sin Management: Bad Idea!
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 19 Mar 12
       
      When we substitute our strength for Holy Spirit's by trying to manage our fleshly sin, watch out! The demons have got you! gfp (2012-03-19)
  • the point of Christianity is about being good.
  • It isn’t. That’s a byproduct; an important byproduct but a byproduct nonetheless.
  • ...11 more annotations...
  • When we start thinking in terms of behaving correctly we are, in essence, trying to live the Christian life in our own ability.
  • By “taking control” of our sin life, we push the Holy Spirit (and His power) out of the way and start trying to be good in the weakness of our own human flesh.
  • This, in turn, just drives the Spirit farther from us because we have lost contact with our own reality, let alone His. What I’m describing here is hypocrisy. Ask yourself, how did Jesus feel about religious hypocrites?
  • We also have a community were rules (and keeping them) are more important than true spirituality,
  • Because the assumption is that keeping rules will keep us holy. When, in fact, trying to gain God’s approval through rule keeping drives His Spirit away.
  • If you have a bunch of people acting like this (a spiritual community/church) what do we end up with? We end up with fear;
  • The end result is a community of judgment because phonies would rather try to control other’s sins than deal with themselves.
  • Most people who experience it only stay (if they can really stand it) because they know nothing else or they assume that that is the only place they can find Jesus.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 20 Mar 12
       
      WOW!
  • Jesus’ Spirit may not be there in any great measure in the first place. He is replaced with talk about Jesus. It’s not the same thing.
  • the only way to combat sin is to be controlled by the Spirit of God. We can’t do it ourselves no matter how hard we try. Have you ever honestly, truly been in a community like that?
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 23 Mar 12
       
      Both contenders in Galatians 5:19 are heavy-weights, so we're wise to ensure we do a 5:25!
  • Have you ever wondered how the first generation of Christians was so powerful without yet having the written New Testament? Does asking such a radical question mean I don’t think the Scriptures are important?
  • Gary Patton on 19 Mar 12
     
    When we substitute our strength for Holy Spirit's by trying to manage our sin, watch out! gfp(2012-03-19)
Gary Patton

The Sin Nature ...Do Jesus Followers Have One? by Dr. Bill Gillham - 0 views

www.christianforums.com/t22382-3

sin nature Mr. Sin christianity dead religion Gillham scripture interpretation romans galatians

shared by Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11 - No Cached
  • We are known as “humans.” Jesus was a human without a sin nature in that He was never descended from Adam. The Holy Spirit furnished the 23 male chromosomes which united with Mary’s 23 to enable Jesus Christ to leave heaven and take on the form of human male.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
       
      One cou;d argue that this implies that our first parent's sinful, human nature is transmitted ONLY through males. Does mr. Gillam really mean that? gfp
  • It is the sin nature that condemns a man to hell, not his sinful performance.
  • The whole ballgame for all of eternity is spiritual, not physical… the bottom line is spirit!
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
       
      This is why Jesus said we can woship God ONLY in spirit and in truth" (John 4:22-24)!
  • ...44 more annotations...
  • The Bible speaks of only two types of spirit-natures referring to them as “men.” They are the “old man” and the “new man.”
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
       
      Modern Bible translated have changed the literal translation of the King James Version of "man" to "self" and noted the original word in a footnote.
  • the Bible speaks of the old man being able, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, to be born in a new way in order to change his identity (Jn. 3). Through turning from his self-centered rebellion, submitting himself to Christ’s authority as the God He is, appropriating His provision for getting shed of his dead spirit and beginning all over again with a new, good, alive, godly spirit, man can become something he has never been…alive to God through Christ (Rom.6:13). This new man is now a son of God via faith in Christ (Jn. 1:12).
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
       
      This is why the Bible says only Jesus Followers are "children of God" and not all people. The latter are His "creation". But, non-Followers are not his children until they are put to death, spiritually, with Jesus and, then, resurrected or "re-born", as Jesus told the Pharisee in John 3:3-5, by Holy Spirit. gfp
  • We are cut from the same spirit-genetic cloth as our Lovely Lord Jesus! God reveals no provision in His word for adding His Spirit to a spirit-son of the devil You cannot mix Light with darkness.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
       
      Don't misunderstand what Mr. Gillham is saying in the second sentence here. All human beings are "sons of the Devil" until re-born in and by Jesus (John 8:42-45) as Mr. Gillham shares above in this article. gfp
  • A great problem exists today in that many well-meaning Christians teach that the death of the old man is simply a “positional truth”; it’s the “position in which God sees us.” They speak of it as if it were something we have to “reckon on” (count it as true) to keep it true.
  • we do not have to reckon on it to derive any benefit from it
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 22 Dec 11
       
      This sentence contains a typo that confuses its sence. I believe that Dr. Gillam intended to write: "...we DO have to reckon on it..." because that is what Romans 6:11 says!
  • The only kind of sons either God or Satan have are spirit-sons,
  • In God’s ecology, in order for a man to cease to be the son of Satan and become a son of God, the man must first die (spiritually) and then be reborn (spiritually), this time to a NEW FATHER! This is portrayed clearly in Romans 7:1-4.
  • the flesh (body, brain, memory traces (flesh) in the brain
  • The reason a Christian doesn’t have a sin nature is because he is no longer the spirit-genes of God, his (New) Father! Hallelujah! Shout for joy! Whoooooeeeee!
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 22 Dec 11
       
      This sentence also includes a typo that confuses its sense. I believe it should be read, and Dr. Gillham intended to write: "The reason a Christian doesn't have a sin nature is because he has no longer the spirit-genes of Satan but has those of God, his (New) Father!"
  • you are NOW a holy (Eph. 1:4), righteous (2 Cor. 5:21), saint of God (Rom. 1:7), blameless (Eph. 1:4), with Christ as your very Life (Col. 3:4), a son of God (Jn. 1:12), housed in an earthsuit (2 Cor. 5:1-8), a citizen of heaven (Eph. 2:19), on foreign assignment as an ambassador representing the “Fatherland” (2 Cor. 5:20), a righteous son of the King (2 Cor. 5:21), a spirit-son of the Second Adam (1 Cor. 11:45), spawned from His Spirit gene pool (Rom. 8:9), filled up with Christ Himself (Eph. 3:19), will all your needs (not greeds) supplied (Phil. 4:19), blessed with every spiritual blessing in heaven (Eph. 1:3), impervious to the obstacles of this planet (Phil.4:13), taking all things in stride as a part of the Loving Father’s “obstacle course” designed to prepare us for eternal rulership (Rom. 8:28-29)!
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
       
      This is an incredible list of Biblical truths that flow from our being born-again in Messiah!
  • It’s not my old self that I am fighting against inside! It’s the power of sin working on my (new) mind (Rom. 7:23) through the flesh (the old memory traces) that I battle, and we are dead to having to submit, brother! (Rom. 6:11)
  • Accept this by faith as your true identity! Set your mind on it! Dwell on it! Meditate on the truth of it! Then, moment by moment act like it is true!
  • Can a man possibly possess dual spiritual sonship? No?
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
       
      This is an incredible freedom-granting truth and a major benefit of being born-again children of God!
  • Stop acting like who you are not! That’s hypocritical! Act like the new man you are by faith! That’s obedience!
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
       
      Our "New Man/Creation" is truly astounding. In life or death situations, human beings can lift cars. Just think for a moment of the limitless capabilities we have as New Creations in Jesus. We are flowing and operating in the power our Inner Warrior when we "abide/rest in" Jesus (John 15:5) and "live His Spirit" (Galatians 5:15).
  • “The King is Dead! Long Live the King!”
  • was thoroughly confused
  • he was talking about two different people
  • But after the one’s “birth” as the new king, the old king could never again resurrect himself because he had no capability for self-resurrection! The very existence of the one precludes the existence of the other and vice versa!
  • The old man has indeed died (Romans 6:6, etc.) and the new man has indeed been generated by the Holy Spirit (Colossians 3:10, etc.). But, unfortunately, the pervasive position taken by most Christian leader is that the old man is till “alive and well’ within the believer…that sinful performance gives daily testimony to this as “fact.”
  • The two can’t coexist any more that the two kings can! It was the death of the old man, which enabled the new man to be born! It is impossible for the new man to exist until the old man has died and the old man cannot resurrect himself. There is but One Life Who has such resurrection power…the Life of Christ!
  • Galatians 5:17 says that the “flesh lusts against the spirit” and vice versa and there is obviously a war going on inside of every Christian, but it’s not the old man versus the new man doing battle.
  • Those cannot exist simultaneously.
  • peaks of the POWER OF INDWELLING IN (not the sin nature) working in man to produce undesirable (sinful) behavior. The power of sin simply deceives the Christian by masquerading as the old man, suggesting (deceiving) to the will that a choice be made to perform according to the old self-serving patterns programmed in previously. This is referred to as “walking after the flesh.”
  • masquerade in the thought life of the Christian posing as his unique version of the old man! The naïve Christian will believe he, himself, is generating the unchristian suggestion and thus direct his defensive efforts against the wrong foe…what he perceives to be a darker side of himself! He fires all his bullets at a shadow! This is the explanation for the frustration depicted in Romans 7:15 “…why do I do the very thing I hate? Why can I get no victory?”
  • Though it would appear that the “two-natures” view places the greater responsibility for poor performance squarely on the Christian and that the “one-nature” view is a cop out, the opposite is actually true!
  • So long as one embraces the former he is constantly deceived into believe his failure is just standard Christian experience. As Scofield said (paraphrased), “This is not standard Christian experience, it’s the standard experience of most Christians,” the tragic result of faulty discipling.
  • Once the Christian enters into identification with Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension, claiming he no longer has two natures, but is now “the righteousness of God in Christ” and “holy and blameless in His sight” he is without excuse when he sins, because he knows what it is to possess the Life (“Christ in me”) which overcomes on a moment-by-moment basis.
  • In reality, it is accepted as fact that Christians no longer have a sin nature that places one squarely on the hook and totally responsible to choose, moment-by-moment, against the wooings, deceptions and accusations of indwelling sin working through the flesh. “Always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus (moment-by-moment) in our body.” (2 Cor. 4:10—NAS)
  • Indwelling sin deceives the “two-natures” believer into rationalizing, “I’m just human. I just fail a lot and God understands it’s just my old sin nature that got the better of me.” This is the true cop out position!
  • Awake sleeper! The king is dead! Long live the King!
  • The power of sin is what its name implies, a power to entice you into sin. It dwells in you (Rom.7:21) yet it is not you any more than a gold tooth that dwells in your mouth is you. Sin’s goal is to deceive the saints into living to get their needs (though good and godly) met by sinning rather than by using the Matt. 6:33 method; that is, “seeking Christ first.”
  • The power of sin is not your sin nature. Your sin nature is a synonym for old man or old self. That “old you” was crucified in Christ (Rom. 6:6). Before you were saved, it was as normal for you old nature to rebel against God’s authority as it is for a fish to swim.
  • Yet the power of sin is alive and well in you, saint. It indwells your body (Rom. 7:23). On page 1055 of W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Vine states that sin is, “a governing principle or power” that is “personified” in the following passages. He then lists sixteen verses in which this holds true. The term personified means “represented as a person.” The power of sin can represent itself as a personage.
  • Since sin is personified, let’s call it “Mr. Sin” so we won’t confuse it with the verb. Mr. Sin tries to control you, to make you live to satisfy your bodily needs.
  • “For sin shall not be master over you…(Rom. 6:14). Mr. Sin (the personification) cannot master you. Remember how sin is “represented as a person?” It tries to master you through presenting thoughts to your mind by masquerading as the old man who has risen from the tomb. But no one except Jesus can do that, right? That’s not the old man; it’s the power of sin personified.
  • “But, if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but Mr. Sin which indwells me (is somehow doing it)” (Rom. 7:20). This verse can really be a puzzler if you interpret the word “sin” as a verb. But it’s a noun, and Vine says it is personified (represented as a person).
  • Mr. Sin the “personage,” wars, fights and seeks to control your mind. But your mind does not want to be controlled by this power, so it fights back.
  • Can you see what a difference this makes in motivating a Christian as opposed to berating him by constantly telling him what a sorry, no-good sinner he is and how he is going to face an angry God some day? Folk, it’s our works which will be judged in the future, not our personhood (2 Cor. 5:10) and God is not mad at the saved. He took our all the anger He had against us on Jesus (Isa. 53). We’ll either be rewarded or we’ll lose what we potentially could have won, but “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ” (Rom. 8:1).
  • The Law is the source of Mr. Sin’s strength. To couple law with Mr. Sin is like pouring gas on a fire. This personage called sin needs a law to aid it if it is to optimally control you. It “eats, breathes and sleeps” via the Law.
  • “The Law is not made for a righteous man” (1 Tim. 1:9).
  • Why? Because you, the righteous man (2 Cor. 5:21), don’t need it. The lost man does (in order to show him his condition), but you don’t. You now “have the laws of God written on (your) heart and mind” (Heb. 10:16).
  • it was exciting to discover that a man of Vine’s stature as a scholar testifies that the power of sin is often personified in the Word. What liberty there is in knowing that the rebellious, evil, hateful thoughts I experience are being presented to my mind, not generated by it.
  • In this verse, sin is represented as a personage which can harden you through deception.
  • Is Our Sin Nature dead or NOT?
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 25 Feb 12
       
      In the short articles below, Dr. Gillham demolishes the common teaching, often implies by preachers, that a Jesus Follower can have two natures ... a Satanic, sinful nature plus the righteous nature of God in Christ? This hypothesis" or opinion (http://is.gd/2tUCAb) is taught or implied by many in the church usually as truth. It also is implied by the New International Version (NIV) Bible's translating Biblical 'flesh' as "sin nature" ...wrongly as Dr. Gillham illustrates. Can a wo(man) really possess a dual spiritual sonship? You'll find freeing meditating on the clear Biblical answer presented here because Rev. Gillham says the answer is "NO! We don't have two natures!!" "Stop trying and start trusting God! It's not what you have to do that counts. But what Jesus has already fully done for you and the power He gives you because He lives in you!" ~ gfp '42™ gfp (2011-09)
  • Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
     
    In these 3 short articles, Dr. Gillham addresses teaching that a Jesus Follower can have two natures ... a Satanic, sinful nature plus the righteous nature of God in Christ? This hypothesis" or opinion is taught or implied by many in the church usually as truth. It also is implied by the New International Version (NIV) Bible's translating Biblical "flesh" as "sin nature". But, can a wo(man) really possess a dual spiritual sonship? The clear Biblical answer according to Bill Gillham is "NO!" "Stop trying ...and start trusting God, It's not what you do. But what Jesus has already fully done for you!" ~ gfp '42™ gfp (2011-09)
  • Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
     
    "Mr. Sin" is a more dangerous moment-to-moment foe for you than Satan. Pastor Gillham tells why! gfp
Gary Patton

The Root of Who a Jesus Follower is In Christ - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

romans sin-nature christian dead scripture interpretation Jesus Following

shared by Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11 - No Cached
  • baptized into His death
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
       
      If you have Holy Spirit living in you, you're past tense dead! You are a brand, new "New Creation", not a patched up one or one with two natures ...despite what the NIV implies by its translation of "flesh" as "sinful nature" as outlined at by Dr. Bill Gillham at http://diigo.com/0j8w4 . The "Old You" (Old Man or Old Self) is dead and buried and a "New You" (Man/Self/Creation) is all that's left because of what Jesus has already done for you.
  • as Christ was (B)raised from the dead through the (C)glory of the Father
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
       
      If you have Holy Spirit living in you, you're past tense dead! You are a brand, new "New Creation", not a patched up one or one with two natures ...despite what the NIV implies by its translation of "flesh" as "sinful nature" as outlined at by Dr. Bill Gillham. The "Old You" (Old Man or Old Self) is dead and buried and a "New You" (Man/Self/Creation) is all that's left because of what Jesus has already done for you.
  • walk in (D)newness of life
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
       
      This promise confirms the truth of our "New Life" as a Follower of Jesus as we let Him live His life out through us as it says in Galatians 2:20 at < http://is.gd/BYVePk >. gfp (2011-09-08)
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • body of sin might be [b]done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
       
      In this verse, please go with the equally acceptable translation noted in (B) of "made powerless"! This makes clearer that "Mr. Sin" is finished and cannot resurrect himself as the flesh (what remains in your human nature after rebirth) continues to do in ALL Christians. You are clearly past tense dead to the power of "Mr. Sin" operating through your flesh to control your behaviour. You can read more about Mr. Sin in the short articles by Dr. Gillham at http://diigo.com/0j8w4 .
  • dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
       
      How's this for a miracle .. you are a dead wo(man) and really alive for the first time. But only when you believe this truth. This verse makes even clearer that "Mr. Sin" is dead, powerless and cannot resurrect himself as can your flesh (what remains in your human nature after rebirth) continues to do in ALL Christians. You are clearly past tense dead to the power of "Mr. Sin". As I noted above, you can read more about Mr. Sin in the short articles by Dr. Gillham @ gfp (2011-09-08)
  • having been (A)freed from sin,
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
       
      You do NOT have "two natures" Please believe it!. Then act on the truth you say you believe by keeping on keeping on abiding/resting/walking in Jesus, you dead wo(man) you!!!! Because when Jesus sets you FREE, you're free indeed as you're also promised at < http://diigo.com/0jiq6 > . gfp (2011-09-08)
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 24 Jan 12
       
      There are four other short verses attached below. Don't miss the e-Sticky Note comments on each of these.
  • Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
     
    Please note and prayerfully meditate on the powerful truth that the verbs in each of 5 crucial verses in Romans 6:3,4,6,11,18 are each past tense? Please also reflect on what that means for you having a REAL life of abundance and true freedom if you follow Jesus. If you do, the "Old You" (Old Man or Old Self) is dead and buried and a "New You" (Man/Self/Creation) is all that's left because of what Jesus has already done for you. You already are a brand New Creation, not a patched up one or one with two natures ...even f you don't always act of feel like one. Plus you're dead to the power of Mr. Sin operating through your flesh (sinful habit patterns that remain as part of your human, not sinful, nature) to control your behaviour. gfp
  • Gary Patton on 01 Dec 11
     
    The Bible says you ARE a "Dead Wo(man) Walking". But, you may not know it. And that's holding your spiritual growth back! gfp
  • Gary Patton on 04 Dec 11
     
    Yes, you really are a Walking Dead Wo(man) when you are in Christ! And you're powerless if you don't believe and understand how and why God designed His children to be this kind of New Creation in Christ"! gfp
Gary Patton

Jesus Is Living IN His Followers and OUT of Them - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

john freedom christ scripture

shared by Gary Patton on 24 Jan 12 - No Cached
  • John 15:5
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 22 May 12
       
      Jesus Is Living IN His Followers and OUT of Them In this Jesus Following Bible passage, Jesus (Yeshua), as almighty God, makes a startling but freeing statement of His truth. 2011-09-08
  • he who abides in Me and I in him, he (A)bears much fruit
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 22 May 12
       
      Jesus makes clear in this verse that that as you rest, remain, stay in Him, He will live His life out through you. Jesus' Apostle (sent-out-one) and our fellow Follower, the Apostle Paul, uses expressions like "live" and "walk in the Spirit" to command the same behaviour for his First Century Gatherings plus modern Jesus Followers us in Galatians 5:16 & 19 at http://diigo.com/0m0c1 and http://diigo.com/0mqyl . This is re-confirmed in other words by Paul in Galatians 2:20 at http://diigo.com/0jggi where he clarifies that for Jesus Followers that their Master's "yoke is easy and his burden light" because He lives His life out through us making us only "Walking Dead Wo(men)".
  • apart from Me you can do nothing
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 22 May 12
       
      What is it that some Jesus Followers don't understand about God saying in this verse that when we work in our own strength we'll accomplish "nothing" of value? My Friend and Brother David Ryser comments on this phrase in a fantastic Blog posting. And he knows what he's talking about when it comes to New Covenant (Testament) Scripture because he is a Greek Scholar with a Ph.D.. David points out: "Part of the problem [with this phrase] is our poorly translated English Bible…and poor translation leads to poor interpretation…and every version has serious problems. "In several translations, the last part of John 15:5 is rendered, "without Me you can do nothing." This leads us to conclude that with Jesus we can do anything. But the Bible never says this…not in Greek, anyhow…and it flies in the face of what Jesus is teaching in the first part of John 15. "The picture here is NOT of a vine that is not with us. The idea is NOT that we branches could bear all kinds of fruit if the vine were alongside of us. "And yet, how much preaching have we heard about how we can accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God with Jesus at our side? "Rather, the illustration Jesus uses is that of a branch that has been detached from the vine. And the word translated "without" (χώρις) in some of the most popular English versions of the Bible, is better translated as "apart/detached from" as it is in the NASB and the NIV. Just try to tear off a grape branch from the grapevine with your bare hands sometime. You will discover the branch is an outgrowth of the vine…so much so that if you attempt to tear off the branch, it will shred the vine all the way to the root. "Grape branches cannot be torn off. They must be cut off. "And if the branches are cut off from the vine, the life of the vine will not flow through them. Not only will the branches not bear fruit, they will die. We are delusional if we think that we are going to produce and manifest the fruit of the life of
Gary Patton

Heaven & Rapture Theology, Video interview with by - 0 views

mash.network.coull.com/activatevideo

heaven theology rapture wright

shared by Gary Patton on 19 May 13 - No Cached
  • Gary Patton on 19 May 13
     
    English Bishop, N. Tom Wright explains his interpretation of what he believes the New Covenant teaches about "Life After, Life After Death.
Gary Patton

Jesus Followers Needn't Worry - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

bible scripture scripture interpretation matthew lifestyle

shared by Gary Patton on 01 May 12 - No Cached
  • Gary Patton on 01 May 12
     
    Matthew 6:25-34 is Jesus' clear and unequivocal promise to provide everything his first and all subsequent Followers EVERY THING of EVERY SORT that they need to empower their followership of Him without frenzy, fear or workaholism while in this life. So relax Christian and let Jesus live His life out from within you as you are going along (Galatians 2:20 at )! gfp (2012-05-01)
Gary Patton

"How to Have Consummate Peace" - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

bible scripture philippians coaching tips lifestyle joy peace

shared by Gary Patton on 19 Feb 12 - No Cached
  • Philippians 4:4-9
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 25 Jul 12
       
      "How to Have Consummate Peace" http://diigo.com/0nkx5 If you want to always sleep sweetly, live your life moment-to-moment as Holy Spirit commands through the Apostle Paul, a sent-out one, in the Christian New Covenant (Testament) Verses below. And after 25 years of taking my worries, fears and F-E-A-Rs (False-Evidence-Appearing-Real) to God, I can guarantee that His way works ...every time! GaryFPatton (gfp '42™ 2012-07-24)
  • whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 25 Jul 12
       
      Before you speak or even reflect: T - is it TRUE? H - is it HELPFUL? I - is it INSPIRING? N - is it NECESSARY? K - is it KIND?
  • Rejoice in the Lord always
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 25 Jul 12
       
      "Dour Christians", i.e., those who are "relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance", need to take this admonition to heart!
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 20 Feb 12
       
      Do this and you WILL succeed ...and without fretting!
  • &nbsp;Do not be anxious about anything,(C) but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 25 Jul 12
       
      Now, hows that for a simple, easy-to work formula, eh? And the secret to how and why this works you can find outlined in Philiippians 4:11-13 at http://diigo.com/0s0n6 , just a few verses later.
  • And the peace of God,(E) which transcends all understanding,(F) will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 25 Jul 12
       
      This is what I call: "God's Perpetual Promise of Peace" In late 1998, Karen, my wife, and I were dealing with life-threatening cancer in her colon. At the same time, I was totally disabled having been totally unable to work for the prior 3 1/2 years. I had serious Chronic Fatigue and Immune Deficiency Syndrome. We'd had no income coming in for over three years. This Verse describes perfectly what occurred in Karen's and my lives when we took our absolute terror about our diseases and what might happen to us in the future to our Heavenly Father! You can read more about our experience at or Website "Are You Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired" at http://is.gd/5Mzhms .
  • Gary Patton on 19 Feb 12
     
    If you want to always sleep sweetly, live your life moment-to-moment as Holy Spirit commands through the Apostle Paul, a sent-out one, in Phillipians 4:4-9.
Gary Patton

KONY 2012 - YouTube - 0 views

www.youtube.com/watch

family justice warfare peace-making christianity evangelism

shared by Gary Patton on 10 Mar 12 - No Cached
  • Gary Patton on 10 Mar 12
     
    "Where you live [as a child] should not determine whether you can live!" ~ Invisible Children KONY 2012 is a film and campaign of "waging peace" by Invisible Children Inc.. It aims to make Joseph Kony, the LRA leader in Uganda, more infamous ...not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice. Please invest 27 minutes of your life in watching this video and learn why Joseph Kony MUST be stopped., this year, in 2012. Hear the cry of kids who are being robbed of life! Then, write the leader of your country and demand his involvement in Kony 2012. gfp (2012-03-10)
Gary Patton

Gratitude, Its Distress Power: Tips to Bolster Thankfulness | Positive Impact Magazine ... - 0 views

www.positiveimpactmagazine.com/...e-tips-to-bolster-thankfulness

stress stress-management Scripture wellness

shared by Gary Patton on 30 Nov 11 - No Cached
  • Religions and philosophies have long embraced gratitude as a manifestation of virtue and as an important factor in our health and well-being.
  • Science is increasingly revealing the importance of gratitude in people’s lives.
  • the feeling of appreciation is the most concrete and the easiest positive emotion for individuals to self-generate and sustain for long periods.
  • ...11 more annotations...
  • Gratitude is an expression of the heart and it is a powerful and positive emotional energy that can add hope and resilience in your life,
  • experts say that the act of simply recalling a time of feeling sincere appreciation and then intentionally focusing on that feeling for a few moments can reduce emotional stress
  • In HeartMath study it was observed that just five minutes of genuinely feeling a positive emotion such as appreciation, care and or compassion can give a beneficial boost to the immune system.
  • positive emotions like appreciation can increase heart-rhythm coherence. Coherence is a balance or smoothness in one’s heart rhythms.
  • Blessing Reminders
  • if someone finds it initially difficult to self-generate a feeling of appreciation in the present moment then they can recall a past memory that elicits a warm feeling. With practice, most people will find that they can self-generate feelings of appreciation in real-time.”
  • Positive emotion-refocusing techniques, like those researched and developed by HeartMath, can create a physiological shift in individuals such as changing one’s heart rhythms to a healthier pattern. The techniques can also help individuals effectively replace stressful thoughts and emotional patterns with positive perceptions and emotions like appreciation. HeartMath experts say this is a fundamental step in improving one’s overall health and sense of well-being.
  • Take your gratitude practices further with these tips:
  • Gratitude in Focus
  • researchers found that those patients who acknowledged benefits from their heart attack, such as becoming more appreciative of life, experienced a lower risk of having another heart attack.
  • Keep a Gratitude Journal
  • Gary Patton on 30 Nov 11
     
    In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the Holy Spirit of God commands Jesus Followers to always give thanks to their heavenly Father ...regardless of how we feel or our circumstances. We are never to be "under the circumstances" as the expression says. This article outlines the scientific research that demonstrates for Believers & doubting non-Believers that God knows how He designed us to live best. HeartMath's brain/heart connection research has proven that the Bible's emphasis on 'heart' as well as 'mind' is a scientifically, proven certainty. As is the fact the former drives the latter rather than what is argued by many Bibles teachers. See the documented research. (http://is.gd/6yFcyP) gfp (2011-11-12)
  • Gary Patton on 30 Nov 11
     
    Thankfulness is the key to a joyous, stress-optimized and successful life of peace and prosperity! gfp
Gary Patton

Guarding The Most Valuable Assets In Your Life - 0 views

www.cbmcint.org/...29

CBMC dis-stress stress freedom

shared by Gary Patton on 30 Nov 11 - No Cached
  • “Our most valuable asset sits 63 feet ahead” (referring to the driver of the truck).
  • really struggling with stress and not able to get everything accomplished that I wanted to get done. As a result, I had begun putting a lot of pressure on myself to become more productive.
  • I love progress and I love getting stuff done. However, what God showed me was that people and relationships are more important.
  • ...13 more annotations...
  • Perhaps my biggest problem was my lack of faith.
  • I was stunned.&nbsp;It occurred to me how often I do not demonstrate this in my own life, especially with my own fa
  • ily. My attitude so often is, “I can’t talk now. I’ve got something really important to get done!”
  • “The way I look at it, if I honor God in conversations like these, He will take care of what needs to get done on my task list.”
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 17 Apr 12
       
      Like the writer I suspect, I've totally bought into and trust Matthew 6:25-34 regarding how I work. I eschew frenzy and workaholism for revenue. Jesus has never once failed to keep His promise to meet ALL my family's needs since I committed to work only for Him in 1984 ...despite a sometimes bumpy road, since. Our wants, on the other hand ...not s omuch as we would have liked, though! As the expression from the depression goes: "Karen & I have everything we need except enough cash!"
  • “I figured that God is bringing this person into my life at this moment for a reason – either for them to speak into my life or for me to speak into theirs.
  • Reflection/Discussion Questions
  • Truth@Work
  • ), a ministry to people in the workplace.
  • www.christianroundtablegroups.com
  • Bleedership: Biblical First-Aid for Leaders.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 30 Nov 11
       
      See what people say about Jim's book @ http://is.gd/tqIhNw gfp
  • online blog, www.5feet20.com
  • more faith in myself to get work done than I do in my Heavenly Father’s ability to empower me to accomplish what has to be done. Because of my displaced “faith,” I sometimes put tasks ahead of people.
  • Proverbs 17:17, 18:24, 27:23-27; Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31; John 15:13; Ephesians 6:5-9
  • Gary Patton on 30 Nov 11
     
    Is work a 24/7 proposition for you? Has it become a depressing rather than fun activity? Do you not know where to turn to get off the treadmill? This short article by Jim Lang, of the Christian Business Men's Committee has some freedom-producing answers for you! gfp This
  • Gary Patton on 30 Nov 11
     
    Is work a 24/7 proposition for you? Has it become a depressing rather than fun activity? Do you not know where to turn to get off the treadmill? gfp
Gary Patton

Connecting With the One Living God - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

scripture romans salvation healing freedom bible Jesus Jesus' promise

shared by Gary Patton on 30 Nov 11 - No Cached
  • if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and (C)believe in your heart that (D)God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, [b]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, [c]resulting in salvation.
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 04 Jul 12
       
      But, what do I confess and believe you may ask? The key to reconciliation with God is to simply say honestly to Jesus: "I am a sinner. Please save me from my sin nature and my many sins. I believe you died on Your cross and rose ffrom your grave to reconcile me with God by paying the full penalty for my wrongs that my good works cannot overcome!"
  • Romans 10:8-12
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 04 Jul 12
       
      "How To Connect With The One True God" You'll discover in Romans 10:8-12 below what the Bible says about connecting with God and having abundant life and day-to-day peace ...now not just in the next life... through a relationship with Jesus, the One Living God in Three. Having a relationship with the One Living God is not complicated. The door is always available ...in fact, Jesus (Yeshua), but not the Qur'anic Isa, is there knocking right now for those who don't know Him personally. He says so at http://diigo.com/0lk60 . Please take Jesus at His word, believe He wants to save you from your sin nature and your sins ...no matter what you may have done... as He promises below. He WANTS to give you complete peace by entering into His eternity with Him, now, as well as after death! gfp (2011-11-30)
  • WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE [d]DISAPPOINTED.”
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Whoever believes in Him will not be [d]disappointed
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 04 Jul 12
       
      You're too bright to believe in your heart that a perfectly holy God who demands absolute justice would be willing to measure anyone's ability to enter heaven on a "Bell Curve of good works" as the Qur'an suggests in Surah 23:97-104 or any other way but via His loving grace.
  • there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is (G)Lord of (H)all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;
  • Gary Patton on 30 Nov 11
     
    Connecting with God and having peace with Him is not complicated. The door is always available ...in fact Jesus is there knocking right now as He says at http://diigo.com/0lk60 if you don't know Him personally. Please take Jesus at His word, believe He wants to save you from your sin nature and sins ...not matter what you've done! gfp (2011-11-30
  • Gary Patton on 30 Nov 11
     
    Here's the only route to heaven. Your good works can NEVER get you there! gfp
Gary Patton

Jesus Asserts His Deity & His Followers' Assurance of Eternal Relationship with God Thr... - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

john God jesus death grace sin sin-nature scripture

shared by Gary Patton on 09 Jan 12 - No Cached
  • John 10:22-30
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 09 Jan 12
       
      In John 10:22-30, Jesus states clearly that He IS "God Incarnate" (the man-God in human skin & bones). This Scripture also makes clear that anyone who believe in the reality of Jesus' death on the cross for them gets an incredible Gift. That gift is eternal life in and with God from the moment they choose to follow Jesus. This is because God accepts Jesus' death on our behalf as full payment of the penalty we, not Jesus, deserve for everything we have done contrary to God's will. Through our faith in Jesus' death on our behalf God grants us, by grace, complete and eternal forgiveness for every sin we have committed in the past, commit today or will commit in the future. These verses confirm, finally, that Jesus' glorious payment, as a righteous person without sin and undeserving of death unlike us, guarantees that no one or nothing can take our eternal life from us ...including we ourselves through our own disobedience. You heavenly Father further promises you the same gift for your children and granchildren in Psalm 103:17 at http://diigo.com/0mc2f. So, trust him! Claim His promises! And relax while you continue to pray for your kids.
  • Jesus Asserts His Deity
  • Gary Patton on 09 Jan 12
     
    In John 10:22-30 (New American Standard Bible), Jesus states clearly that He IS "God Incarnate" (the man-God in human skin & bones). This Scripture also makes clear that anyone who believe in the reality of Jesus' death on the cross for them gets an incredible Gift. That gift is eternal life in and with God from the moment they choose to follow Jesus. This is because God accepts Jesus' death on our behalf as full payment of the penalty we, not Jesus, deserve for everything we have done contrary to God's will. Through our faith in Jesus' death on our behalf God grants us, by grace, complete and eternal forgiveness for every sin we have committed in the past, commit today or will commit in the future. These verses confirm, finally, that Jesus' glorious payment, as a righteous person without sin and undeserving of death unlike us, guarantees that no one or nothing can take our eternal life from us ...including we ourselves through our own disobedience. gfp (2011-09-27)
Gary Patton

Humankind's Creation - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

bible scripture genesis lifestyle

shared by Gary Patton on 14 Feb 12 - No Cached
  • Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the [b]sky and over every living thing that [c]moves on the earth.”
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 14 Feb 12
       
      Humankinds orignial and basic life purpose which has never been rescinded and is suplemeted for each Jesus Follower as outlined in Ephesians 2: 10 at http://diigo.com/0n20e in context.
  • I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the [d]surface of all the earth, and every tree [e]which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 26 Feb 12
       
      In 1968, Karen, my wife, and I became changed our diet and our lifestyle from what most people follow. We gave up the SAD (Standard American Diet) after different diseases almost killed me and threatened Karen's life. In Karen's case, colon cancer could have killed her. The results of a gangrenous bladder almost put me in a grave.  In less than four (4) months following our shift in diet Karen and I were both completely healed. We have remained vibrantly healthy ever since. In November of that year, we became what are called "Live Food Vegans", i.e., we started to eat only fruits, vegetables, seeds nuts and and gluten-free grains. In addition, less than 20% of what we eat most days is cooked in any way. Karen and I have learned a lot about how to be and stay healthy. At 70+, we both are told we look like we're in our 50s.  Our lifestyle, which involves more than than just a diet change, we call our S-M-A-R-TLifestyle™.  You can read more about what happened to us and our lifestyle at this link (http://is.gd/l0mZPv). We agree that a Jesus Follower is free to eat what s(he) wishes, within reason. That's part of being free In Jesus! Nonetheless, we simply believe that the diet outlined in the Christian Bible in  Genesis 1:29 was God's "best" one for his perfect creation. He has never rescinded that diet.  By following it, you too can reap the substantial rewards of natural law which anyone can take advantage of ...like we did in 1998.
  • Genesis 1:26-31
    • Gary Patton
      Gary Patton on 15 Feb 12
       
      Genesis 1: 26-31 describe the first humans' creation as the original ancestors of every man and woman who has ever lived as confirmed by modern DNA and gnome science. They also confirm God's original life mandate and ideal diet for every human ...neither of which He has EVER rescinded. gfp (2012-01-31)
Gary Patton

S.P.i.N. Evangelism that Works by Simple Discipleship @ Wordpress - 0 views

www.simplediscipleship-wordpress.com/...s-p-i-n-evangelism

bible scripture Jesus evangelism

shared by Gary Patton on 20 Aug 13 - No Cached
  • Gary Patton on 20 Aug 13
     
    Neil Rackham in his book entitled "SPIN Selling" discovered after extensive research that quick, transactional selling works well when marketing small consumer goods and services. However, his research proves that big-ticket items require multiple-meeting, relational selling because rapid transactional selling fails to work effectively for big-ticket items. Can you think of any "bigger ticket item" than the destiny of one's eternal soul and how people can achieve, but NEVER earn, salvation from the wrath of God which we all deserve because His holiness is repelled by our sin nature and sins? Try SPiN, not traditionally-taught, Evangelism approaches. When you do, watch how much better your co-workers, neighbours, and relatives respond to the life-giving "Good News" you share about Jesus and what He's doing in your life. GaryFPatton (2013-08-20)
Gary Patton

"What Produces R-E-A-L Character" - Bible Gateway - 0 views

www.biblegateway.com/passage

bible scripture scripture interpretation romans character perseverence suffering hope Holy Spirit

shared by Gary Patton on 25 Jan 13 - No Cached
  • we[a] also rejoice in our sufferings,(A) because we know that suffering produces perseverance;(B) 4&nbsp;perseverance, character; and character, hope.
  • does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love(D) into our hearts by the Holy Spirit,(E) whom he has given us.
  • Romans 5:3-5
  • Gary Patton on 25 Jan 13
     
    In Romans 5:3-5, of the New Covenant section of the Christian Bible, Jesus' Apostle (sent-out-one), Paul tells us what produces character. And building R-E-A-L character is what God is about during the earthly portion of a Jesus Follower's eternal life.
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