Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
chapter 3 Plan B
The Illusion of Control
"Do you remember the first time you realized you weren't in total control of your life?...I think most of us tend to view our lives as one of those marionette puppets. We think we have life by a string. There's a string that runs to our relationships and one to our finances and one to our kids, and we assume that we can make them all do what we want. We assume if we work hard enough and pray long enough, eventually we'll be able to manipulate the circumstances to our benefit. Trouble is, life doesn't work that way. The greatest of all illusions is the illusion of control."
Peter Scazzero puts it this way: "I like control. I like to know where God is going, exactly what he is doing, the exact route of how we are getting there, and exactly when we will arrive. I also like to remind God of his need to behave in ways that fit with my clear ideas of him. For example, God is just, merciful, good, wise, loving. The problem, then, is that God is beyond the grasp of every concept I have of him. He is uttlery incomprehensible."
2 Samuel 13-16 is highlighted in this chapter - the story of Amnon and Tamar. David ignores the situation. His son, Absalom, Tamar's full brother, who won't ignore this injustice waits and plans out the best way to get revenge on his brother, Amnon. Absalom waits 2 years - throws a party - kills Amnon at the party in front of everyone and has his revenge on his brother for raping his sister. "So, now David has a shattered daughter in Tamar. Amnon, his firstborn, is dead. And Absolaom, whom David dearly loves, is a murderer on the run." Things have gone from bad to worse.
David surrenders the outcome of his story to God. He puts himself in God's hands and says if God is pleased with him he will bring him victory otherwise God can do with him whatever He wants. David realizes he is not in control. He recognizes that God is God and he is not! "I will abandon my dream, but not my God."
"...the danger for most of us is that not only are we tempted to think we hold the strings to our life; we really think we get to write the script. We buy into the illusion of control. We keep a death grip on those marionette strings. Letting go of control like David did is a humbling and even painful act."
What do you think about the following statement: "the greatest of all illusions is the illusion of control?"
Can giving up control ever be a form of irresponsibility? What determines the difference between a healthy "let it in God's hands" and an unhealthy refusal to take responsibility?
The Illusion of Control
"Do you remember the first time you realized you weren't in total control of your life?...I think most of us tend to view our lives as one of those marionette puppets. We think we have life by a string. There's a string that runs to our relationships and one to our finances and one to our kids, and we assume that we can make them all do what we want. We assume if we work hard enough and pray long enough, eventually we'll be able to manipulate the circumstances to our benefit. Trouble is, life doesn't work that way. The greatest of all illusions is the illusion of control."
Peter Scazzero puts it this way: "I like control. I like to know where God is going, exactly what he is doing, the exact route of how we are getting there, and exactly when we will arrive. I also like to remind God of his need to behave in ways that fit with my clear ideas of him. For example, God is just, merciful, good, wise, loving. The problem, then, is that God is beyond the grasp of every concept I have of him. He is uttlery incomprehensible."
2 Samuel 13-16 is highlighted in this chapter - the story of Amnon and Tamar. David ignores the situation. His son, Absalom, Tamar's full brother, who won't ignore this injustice waits and plans out the best way to get revenge on his brother, Amnon. Absalom waits 2 years - throws a party - kills Amnon at the party in front of everyone and has his revenge on his brother for raping his sister. "So, now David has a shattered daughter in Tamar. Amnon, his firstborn, is dead. And Absolaom, whom David dearly loves, is a murderer on the run." Things have gone from bad to worse.
David surrenders the outcome of his story to God. He puts himself in God's hands and says if God is pleased with him he will bring him victory otherwise God can do with him whatever He wants. David realizes he is not in control. He recognizes that God is God and he is not! "I will abandon my dream, but not my God."
"...the danger for most of us is that not only are we tempted to think we hold the strings to our life; we really think we get to write the script. We buy into the illusion of control. We keep a death grip on those marionette strings. Letting go of control like David did is a humbling and even painful act."
What do you think about the following statement: "the greatest of all illusions is the illusion of control?"
Can giving up control ever be a form of irresponsibility? What determines the difference between a healthy "let it in God's hands" and an unhealthy refusal to take responsibility?
Chapter 2 of Plan B
Don't Run
The story of David in the O.T. is highlighted - 1 Samuel 16. "Isn't it true we often assume the road to a God-given dream is going to be smooth and lined with lace? As far as we know, Samuel's instructions to David were simply, "One day you will be the king." Apparently he forgot to mention this whole deal about the current king trying to kill David in the process. I'm thinking that information might have been quite helpful."
"We get oursevles into all kinds of trouble when we assume God must think and feel as we do."
Do you remember a time when all the circumstances of your life led you to believe a certain dream was going to become reality...only to have that dream shatter (or fizzle)?
James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that god has promised to those who love him."
Don't Run
The story of David in the O.T. is highlighted - 1 Samuel 16. "Isn't it true we often assume the road to a God-given dream is going to be smooth and lined with lace? As far as we know, Samuel's instructions to David were simply, "One day you will be the king." Apparently he forgot to mention this whole deal about the current king trying to kill David in the process. I'm thinking that information might have been quite helpful."
"We get oursevles into all kinds of trouble when we assume God must think and feel as we do."
Do you remember a time when all the circumstances of your life led you to believe a certain dream was going to become reality...only to have that dream shatter (or fizzle)?
James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that god has promised to those who love him."
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