(This was posted deep in another discussion. I decided to make it it's own topic for ease of reference. :ugeek: )
I'd like to tell you about the value of teaching your heart to kick back, put it's feet up, and say, "Bring on the popcorn!"
1Cor4:6 says that we (our lives) are a spectacle to men and to angels. Translation: Our lives are like an interesting movie.
What makes a good movie (as opposed to a terminally BORING one?) 2 elements: Conflict throughout, and a good ending. My family won't even go see Marley & Me because they already know it has a bad ending -- the dog dies. And the newspaper doesn't report that you had a pretty good day yesterday, and your neighbor had a pretty good day yesterday. They report that the other neighbor had a terrible fight with his wife and the police were called... Right?
Psalms 34 talks about the movies or episodes of our lives. The angel of the Lord encamps ... etc. Towards the end, vs 19, it says, "Many are the troubles / conflicts / difficulties / afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." Translation: You're gonna have a lifetime full of episodes, but rest assured, they'll have good endings. So they'll be good movies.
Jesus seems to have bought into this concept at the end of John 16:33 when He said something like, "In the world you will have tribulation, but let your heart be at peace, be of good cheer, 'cause I have overcome the world." We WIN! Each movie, each episode is known to have a good ending. (Corollary: If it ain't good yet, it ain't DONE yet! Sit back and enjoy!)
So ... what is the appropriate response when about to view a good movie with a good ending? Sit back, put your feet up, pick up a bowl of popcorn (the GOOD kind -- fresh, hot, buttered, with salt, garlic, red pepper, oregano, parmesan AND brewer's yeast on it!) and enjoy.
I don't mean to suggest that you quit being active and become a couch potato and do nothing of course. Faith without works is dead. It is presumption! I'm speaking specifically to the part of your mind / heart / soul that gets all worked up and worried, lonely, upset, sexually frustrated, fearful, etc.
This is what Jesus meant when He told us not to worry about the morrow, our Father knows what we need. That part of our consciousness is what we can and must teach to kick back, and say, "Hmmm! Another episode! This should be interesting! I wonder what the good ending will be? Bring on the POPCORN!"
The good news is that you can do it at any point in the episode. All you have to do is realize what is going on, and tell your heart, "Bring on the popcorn!" It will understand! Plus, I'm pretty sure it annoys and frustrates the devil, who is the author of confusion and fear -- a nice bonus!
May God's peace settle safely on all of you as you learn to enjoy Popcorn Therapy. Or is it Popcorn Theology?
Who cares? Just bring it ON!
I'd like to tell you about the value of teaching your heart to kick back, put it's feet up, and say, "Bring on the popcorn!"
1Cor4:6 says that we (our lives) are a spectacle to men and to angels. Translation: Our lives are like an interesting movie.
What makes a good movie (as opposed to a terminally BORING one?) 2 elements: Conflict throughout, and a good ending. My family won't even go see Marley & Me because they already know it has a bad ending -- the dog dies. And the newspaper doesn't report that you had a pretty good day yesterday, and your neighbor had a pretty good day yesterday. They report that the other neighbor had a terrible fight with his wife and the police were called... Right?
Psalms 34 talks about the movies or episodes of our lives. The angel of the Lord encamps ... etc. Towards the end, vs 19, it says, "Many are the troubles / conflicts / difficulties / afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." Translation: You're gonna have a lifetime full of episodes, but rest assured, they'll have good endings. So they'll be good movies.
Jesus seems to have bought into this concept at the end of John 16:33 when He said something like, "In the world you will have tribulation, but let your heart be at peace, be of good cheer, 'cause I have overcome the world." We WIN! Each movie, each episode is known to have a good ending. (Corollary: If it ain't good yet, it ain't DONE yet! Sit back and enjoy!)
So ... what is the appropriate response when about to view a good movie with a good ending? Sit back, put your feet up, pick up a bowl of popcorn (the GOOD kind -- fresh, hot, buttered, with salt, garlic, red pepper, oregano, parmesan AND brewer's yeast on it!) and enjoy.
I don't mean to suggest that you quit being active and become a couch potato and do nothing of course. Faith without works is dead. It is presumption! I'm speaking specifically to the part of your mind / heart / soul that gets all worked up and worried, lonely, upset, sexually frustrated, fearful, etc.
This is what Jesus meant when He told us not to worry about the morrow, our Father knows what we need. That part of our consciousness is what we can and must teach to kick back, and say, "Hmmm! Another episode! This should be interesting! I wonder what the good ending will be? Bring on the POPCORN!"
The good news is that you can do it at any point in the episode. All you have to do is realize what is going on, and tell your heart, "Bring on the popcorn!" It will understand! Plus, I'm pretty sure it annoys and frustrates the devil, who is the author of confusion and fear -- a nice bonus!
May God's peace settle safely on all of you as you learn to enjoy Popcorn Therapy. Or is it Popcorn Theology?
Who cares? Just bring it ON!
