{"id":1501,"date":"2011-10-13T09:00:35","date_gmt":"2011-10-13T13:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/godonomics\/?p=1501"},"modified":"2011-10-13T09:25:15","modified_gmt":"2011-10-13T13:25:15","slug":"play-strong-pt-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godonomics\/2011\/10\/play-strong-pt-2.html","title":{"rendered":"Play Strong (pt. 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

I. DO I NEED SOME NEW \u201cOUGHT TO\u201d HABITS?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you \u00a0need some new habits? \u00a0Are you really free to be who you want to be? \u00a0John Ortberg in his book THE LIFE YOU\u2019VE ALWAYS WANTED<\/span> gives some tests to see if you may need some new habits or spiritual disciplines:<\/p>\n

1) Am I becoming more joyful or ungrateful in life?<\/p>\n

2) Am I becoming more judgmental and critical to myself and others?<\/p>\n

3) Am I becoming more or less approachable to my employees, spouse, or children?<\/p>\n

4) Am I growing weary from stress and worry?<\/p>\n

If your life is not becoming more filled with joy than critique, you need to become stronger in your ability to celebrate. You need these disciplines. \u00a0\u00a0If you are less approachable and more stressed than ever, you need some new habits.\u00a0 Currently doing whatever you want to:\u00a0 grumbling, complaining, coveting, or blaming isn\u2019t freeing you to be who you really want to be.\u00a0 It\u2019s not filling you with joy, peace, and strength. \u00a0You and I need new \u201cought to\u201d structure in our lives.<\/p>\n

Henry Cloud, a clinical psychologist and follower of Christ writes, \u201cPut structure into your life in areas you are not mature enough to take the initiative.\u201d \u00a0If you are not mature enough, spiritually or psychologically, to know how to find joy in hardship, to persevere in difficulty, or become less judgmental as you age, you need some outside structure (habits and disciplines) to aim you in the right direction. Henry shared that he needed structure to lose weight. He hired a trainer to push him to do his \u201cought to\u2019s.\u201d After weeks of diet, exercise and hard training, he stopped in the middle of the workout, turned to the trainer and said, \u201cOH NO! We forgot to take \u201cbefore\u201d shots so we can see how much weight I\u2019ve lost.\u201d\u00a0 Without missing a beat, the trainer looked at him and said, \u201cOh, we still can.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0Henry realized that he still had along way to go. \u00a0He put structure in his life before he got to one of those \u201chave to moments\u201d where fear was driving him.<\/p>\n

Paul writes in the Bible that the starting point for training is realizing that \u201cwe haven\u2019t already got what we want or need.\u201d \u00a0When we realize that we are not \u201cthere\u201d we are motivated to press on.<\/p>\n

Phil 2:12<\/strong> Not that I have already attained<\/span>, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of<\/span> that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.<\/em><\/p>\n

Until we get a mental picture of what a life of grace, joy, peace, worry-free, purpose filled life is, we won\u2019t be pursuing it. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But when we realize that doing what I ought to do can free me to do what I want to do… Those Habits turn into Passions.<\/p>\n

II. \u00a0DEDICATION LEADS TO CELEBRATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

A singer or musician says, \u201cI want to play the piano like that.\u201d \u00a0So they practice, and practice. Driven by the vision of playing in front of crowds. \u00a0\u00a0Their desire to do what they want to do causes them to practice what they ought to do. \u00a0\u00a0They know that their dedication to their craft now will lead to celebration later. \u00a0\u00a0Limiting their freedom by taking time to practice will increase their freedom to play strong, to make beautiful music.<\/p>\n

I remember hearing a youth speaker named Greg Speck speak when I was in 6th grade. \u00a0He used humor, real life, Bible teaching to grab my attention. I had never heard the Bible so relevant and compelling. I said, \u201cI want to do that.\u201d I took speech classes, drama classes, and every live presentation skill course that I could. \u00a0\u00a0It became a passion.\u00a0 I wanted the results of the disciplines I was learning. That Dedication leads to Celebration. \u00a0A habit turned to a passion, which turned to a career.<\/p>\n

In his book, GENEROUS JUSTICE<\/span>, Tim Keller tells a story of a young couple Mark and Heather. Heather graduated from Harvard Law School and landed a lucrative job with a major law firm in Manhattan. It was a dream come true. \u00a0She was a high-powered corporate lawyer living the life in the big city. \u00a0Her passion for this dream drove her to keep the discipline of study, the Bar, the late nights, etc. \u00a0Then something new happened. \u00a0She wanted to make a difference in the lives of individuals who couldn\u2019t afford the kinds of fees her clients paid her firm. For a fraction of her former salary, she became an assistant district attorney, where so many of the criminals she prosecuted were those who have been exploiting the poor, particularly women. \u00a0\u00a0Her new passion and vision to help those suffering injustice, drove her to practice new disciplines of frugality and selflessness.<\/p>\n

I had a friend in college who was so struck by the poverty in the city, he made a discipline about going into Cabrini Green (one of the worst projects in the city where a person was shot almost every day).\u00a0 This discipline seemed foolish, unsafe, and stupid, but he was driven to build relationships, help those in poverty, and work with children and families to escape generational poverty. This discipline of daily trips turned into an obsession. He decided to move into Cabrini Green. No white, suburban college student from a upper middle class family had ever done this to my knowledge. \u00a0The drug dealer thought he was a cop. The cops thought he might be a drug dealer. Who would shoot him first? \u00a0I worked with 30-60 children that he brought to our church every Wednesday. \u00a0He was so passionate about helping the poor and elevating these children to a new life. This passion of his \u201cWANT TO\u201d began as a \u201cOUGHT TO\u201d going into Cabrini Green as a requirement for a class in college.<\/p>\n

Dedication leads to Celebration. I train and run, and eat right… so I can have the reward of good health, longer life, the thrill of crossing the finish line.<\/p>\n

Ph 2:13<\/strong> Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead<\/span>, 14<\/strong> I press toward the goal for the prize<\/strong> of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15<\/strong> Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.<\/em><\/p>\n

Paul notes that a mark of maturity (vs 15) is to \u201chave this mind\u201d… or \u201cthink this way\u201d … focus on this bulls-eye. \u00a0\u00a0When you are in an \u201cought to\u201d pushing on, striving, you think about the \u201cwant to\u201d the prize, the \u201cthings that are ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rewards Paul is speaking of come from a deeply connected heart with God\u2019s. \u00a0We get the prize? What is the prize?\u00a0 The greatest prize is being at peace with God, but pleasing Him, rewarded by Him. We are psychologically motivated to pursue acceptance from those who matter most to us. Some of us pursue the prize of our spouse, some our colleagues, some our possessions.\u00a0 Midlife crisis hits when we discover our success or prize isn\u2019t all we hoped. We think “I thought I was on my way, but I\u2019m not. I made it to the top, the zenith, and looked over to the other side of life and… well, the other side of life looks like the first half, like the bear that went over the mountain song, to see what he could see, and what did he see? The other side of the mountain is what he saw.\u00a0 He realized that the prize of second half was the same success he already knew. \u00a0 He needs a prize of being accepted, acknowledged, and rewarded by someone far greater than family, stockholders, or colleagues. Paul says being rewarded by God is far far far superior than anything you can taste on earth. \u00a0Paul disciplines himself now to taste of that prize of knowing His Maker.<\/p>\n

We had a leader\u2019s Bible study a few years ago. Two men shared their need to put the discipline of\u00a0 \u201cgoing home\u201d into their lives. The work is never done. \u00a0They wanted to have a stronger marriage, time with the family, etc.\u00a0 But, in order to do it, they had to make a discipline of going home at a particular time. \u00a0These two CEO\u2019s also had a passion for their companies. \u00a0They chose to leave regularly. \u00a0They made going home a discipline. \u00a0\u00a0Once they did it, they got the benefits of being home, of good health, of spending time with kids. \u00a0At the moment they left the office, they didn\u2019t \u201cwant to\u201d or \u201cfeel good about it\u201d but the got the rewards anyway. \u00a0This is true in every area of life.<\/p>\n

So, why would you want to go through this STRONG journey and get \u201cmore disciplined?\u201d \u00a0\u00a0What\u2019s in it for me? \u00a0What are the benefits? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Well, let me summarize. \u00a0\u00a0Too often, people go to the doctor, to church, to marriage counseling, to stress counseling, when they \u201cHAVE to.\u201d \u00a0There is a tragedy with their lives that drive them to \u201chave to\u201d start new disciplines. This next month gives you an excuse. Some outside structure to do some \u201cOUGHT TO\u2019s\u201d before they become \u201cHAVE TO\u2019s.\u201d \u00a0So this journey can save you some pain and prevent you from getting to the point you \u201chave to\u201d do something.<\/p>\n

More confidence in God. More joy. More wisdom. More authenticity. More joy.\u00a0 More Play.<\/p>\n

Our first discipline is the discipline of joy and play. \u00a0You can become a joyful person. With God\u2019s help, it really is possible. \u00a0Joyfulness is a learned skill. \u00a0You must take responsibility for your own joy, not your friend, not your parent, not your spouse, not your kids or boss…your joy is your responsibility. For some, this does not come easily. \u00a0You may be joy-impaired. You will have to fight for it, but it can be done. \u00a0~ J. Ortberg<\/p>\n

For a free first session of Godonomics, visit:\u00a0 http:\/\/www.godonomics.com\/watch-session-1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=eazRzUl__q4<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I. DO I NEED SOME NEW \u201cOUGHT TO\u201d HABITS? 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He graduated from Moody Bible College in Chicago, majoring in pastoral ministry and communication. His love for ministry and creativity can be seen in many forms: leading teams, expository teaching, acting, and video production. He has served as pastor at two high-impact churches in Georgia: Cumberland Community Church and New Community Church. Chad received an M.A. in Ministry from Moody Graduate School in 2008. He loves volleyball, movies, and hanging out with his wife Beth and their three children.","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.godonomics.com\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godonomics\/author\/chadhovind"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godonomics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godonomics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godonomics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godonomics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/353"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godonomics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1501"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godonomics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1501\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1503,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godonomics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1501\/revisions\/1503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godonomics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godonomics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godonomics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}