Just A Thought

 A white-haired man shuffled into his local bank furious. He muttered to himself as he waited to see the manager. When he finally had a chance this torrent of words spilled out:

“I opened a savings account with this bank twenty years ago, especially for retirement. Accounting models predicted that if I would deposit $100 per week for twenty years, with compounding interest I should have $311,243.27. I am set to retire this month and this account is all I have for retirement. I have tracked my account for twenty years and it has always been on track for that kind of balance.  But, this morning, when I logged in, I saw this message.” At this point he pauses to retrieve a note from his pocket, and reads:

Please note: Due to societal changes, we have adopted a new way of calculating fund balances. Please be open minded and understanding as we attempt to be sensitive to the current social trends. We are now using new Math.

Red-faced, he continues, “Then I proceeded to my account only to find his balance to be 47,832.21. You can imagine how shocked I was. I’ve been shafted!”

I would be angry if that happened to me. In fact, even corrupt governments would call that illegal, and grounds for closing the establishment. How is it that we hold to the “truths” of math religiously, while being flexible on the truths that define the most important and eternal things in our lives. It is not noble and kind to believe just anything that comes along – it is foolish and immoral. It does no one any favors, and it robs those who are not aware of the scams. 

We may feel better about ourselves when we consider ourselves open to many beliefs, as if there are many versions of truth. But God, who is just, saved some of his most severe rebukes and judgements for people who claimed to speak for Him but did not say what He said. Jeremiah 14:13-15 puts it like this in the New living Translation:

Then I said, “O Sovereign LORD, their prophets are telling them, ‘All is well—no war or famine will come. The LORD will surely send you peace.’ ” Then the LORD said, “These prophets are telling lies in my name. I did not send them or tell them to speak. I did not give them any messages. They prophesy of visions and revelations they have never seen or heard. They speak foolishness made up in their own lying hearts. Therefore, this is what the LORD says: I will punish these lying prophets, for they have spoken in my name even though I never sent them. They say that no war or famine will come, but they themselves will die by war and famine!

I am thankful that my bank still operates by the laws of Math I learned in grade school. I am thankful that my church still teaches the laws of God that were laid out in Scripture thousands of years ago. It would be cruel, confusing and wrong to reinterpret those laws just so someone doesn’t feel uncomfortable about the philosophies or life choices they have decided to adopt. If there is a God, how foolish I would be to make up our own rules and then feel smug and enlightened as we ignore His. Just like we discover and live by the rules of Math, gravity, and the speed of light, we would be wise to discover and adhere to the moral and ethical laws that God has established. After all, there will be an accounting.

# posted by John W. Hanson @ Friday, July 25, 2025

 Emotional healing requires openness, vulnerability and intimacy. Like heart surgery, it is sometimes invasive and requires skilled assistance. But it always starts with opening up to the God, the Great Physician. We find some good examples of this kind of praying in the Psalms of David. He was hurt by his brothers, his boss, his wives, those he ruled and his children. He was also hurt by bad choices he made.  Listen to this prayer found in Psalm 13 MSG:

Long enough, GOD—you’ve ignored me long enough. I’ve looked at the back of your headlong enough. Long enough I’ve carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain. Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me.

Take a good look at me, GOD, my God; I want to look life in the eye, So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face.

I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms—I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers.

David knew how to be vulnerable with God. This included being honest. Here are a few things about which we all need to be honest: 

·      Life is brutal.

·      Everyone gets hurt. 

·      God can handle honest conversations.

·      Many times healing begins with confession and obedience.

·      We need to worship Him even when we hurt and do not understand.

Like other kinds of healing, emotional healing may take time. Again, it is much like recovering from heart surgery. Henry Ford Health says “Patients recovering from open-heart surgery typically attend up to three cardiac rehab sessions per week for three months. They recommend that patients reset their lifestyle habits. During recovery, take the opportunity to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. They further recommend a heart healthy diet, that includes avoiding foods high in sodium and saturated fat.”

Emotional healing starts with diagnosis. When you see symptoms of emotional issues, it is important to talk to God about your thoughts and feelings. In response, God will often begin showing you the source of the symptoms and the path to healing. This initial stage of healing may happen through a sermon, book or traumatic event. 

Some issues may require major surgery. You may need to spend a significant amount of time in prayer and Bible reading. God will often use spiritual advisors in your life for this kind of ministry. That means that you may need to ask for help and then get honest with your counselor. Sometimes God will also ask you to make some adjustments, ask and give forgiveness, and apply other biblical principles to your situation. He may also do some instantaneous healing, especially in times of prayer and worship.  Many times people are healed in stages; that is why it is important to keep going to God until you can tell the healing has taken place.

Finally, there may be a season of recovery when you can reset thought patterns and emotional habits. God will provide the direction if you will pay attention and stay engaged in prayer, counseling and church attendance. Be patient and responsive to God – your therapist. 

# posted by John W. Hanson @ Tuesday, July 22, 2025

 It must have been humiliating, frustrating, and terrifying. I am not sure he even understood why he did what he did, but he would often go into fits of rage. He was so disturbed that he roamed in graveyards buck-naked, causing people to give him a wide berth. Since his problems were fueled by evil, we can assume he was often confused, angry and miserable in every way.

Then, one day, he spotted a boat on the Sea of Galilee coming to a dock near his place of homeless wandering. He felt that familiar power inside rise up and drive him to meet those who were disembarking from the boat. He heard his voice being hijacked and must have dreaded what was about to happen, because he was not in control. This is how the story is told in Luke 8:26-39 nlt:

So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee.  As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town. 

As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power. 

Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” 

“Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit. There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned. 

When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. 

So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake.  The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying,  “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him. 

Luckily this time that evil power had met its match. God is wanting to set more people free from the spirits, addictions and mindsets that have hijacked their lives. Believers need to stand ready to do what Jesus did, and set at liberty those that are bound. The results will be similar to the story we just read. Not only will people be delivered, but many others will see the power of God and believe.

# posted by John W. Hanson @ Wednesday, July 09, 2025