Subjecting your Thoughts to the Presence of P.A.P.A.

Individual Protection By Martin Gommel

Some of my thoughts would scare you.
If my thoughts were paraded across a silver screen then you would be aghast. Thoughts of love, pain, anger, lust, depression all dance across the minds screen.
A couple of posts ago I talked about lassoing those varmint thoughts. Grabbing hold of them and tying the suckers down. Often this needs to be done in a place of silence and quietness.
So we have these thoughts captured on paper. What is the next step?
Paul tells us that we are to make every thought obey Christ.

We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Other translations put verse 5 in this way.

We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ NLT
taking every thought captive in order to obey the Messiah. ISV
and we carry off every thought as if into slavery--into subjection to Christ Weymouth New Testament

fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. The Message

It is like we have these thoughts captured and tied up, at the point of a spear and bring them struggling like prisoners to feet of Jesus. We tell them ‘you are going to do what Jesus tells you, Jesus is my King and everything in my life, including my thoughts, are subject to him, you will obey’
They try and wriggle away to control your life but you continue to bring them back to sit in submission to Jesus.
Many try and make their thoughts complaint to logic, reason, Buddhism, the latest pop psychology, the latest self help guru etc. I choose to bring my thoughts under the subjugation of Christ.
How do we take these thoughts and see them submit and change to being what Christ would have us think?
One way I have used for many years is to use a prayer process called the P.A.P.A prayer developed by Dr. Larry Crabb. Here is an excerpt from his book.

Present yourself - Present authentically to God whatever you discover in yourself, whether good or bad. Don’t hold anything back. Don’t pretend that what’s going on inside you (e.g. hatred) really isn’t happening. Don’t trivialize what’s happening as unimportant, petty, not worth mentioning. Don’t spin whatever you discover that’s disagreeable into something more pleasant. Be who you are, where you are.
Attend to attend to how you are thinking of God -  Attend to who God really is (as revealed in the Bible) versus who you think God is (based on life experience) or who you want Him to be (based on your felt desires). Don’t assume your view of God is correct. Don’t project your experience with authority figures, especially your
father, onto God. Don’t sugar-coat the word God to satisfy your desire for a pleasant experience with Him. Don’t believe everything you hear, except from God Himself in the Bible. Stand before the God of the Bible. You’ll fall to your knees, but you’ll get up a new person.
Purge yourself of anything that blocks your relationship with God - Purge whatever is blocking your intimacy with God by acknowledging without excuse or explanation the self-obsession staining your motives that the Spirit chooses to reveal. Don’t simply try hard to be good; don’t merely promise to do better. Don’t criticize others’ faults without first seeing your own equally serious faults. Don’t redefine your self-obsession into understandable mistakes. Don’t assume that your strong passion for what you believe is right is necessarily holy. Stand naked before holiness. The more you see your sin, the more you’ll be amazed by grace.
Approach God as the “first thing” in your life - Approach God with confidence that what He loves to give you is what you want the most. Don’t retreat from God when He seems unresponsive. Don’t negotiate with God. You have no leverage other than His relentless, tender love and your longing to get what He’s giving. Don’t demand anything from God; expect the gift of relationship. Don’t let the desires that you feel dictate your expectations of what He’ll give you. Stand before God as a loved child. Rest in His love as a prelude to receiving His best.

A four day plan that takes you though this process can be downloaded from here.
Try it and let me know how you find it.
Barry Pearman
Image by Martin Gommel Creative Commons Flickr

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Lassoing those Varmint Thoughts

I have been thinking, you have too. 

Tony ropping by By M Glasgow

We all have thoughts that rumble on through the grey matter. Some good and helpful, some not so good, and actually unhelpful.

Around and around the thought blender they go.

I know for me, some of my thoughts have a particular theme.
If I could box them and categorise them I would have multiple files of thoughts.

Fear thoughts, love thoughts, hope thoughts, despair thoughts, depression thoughts, anger thoughts, revenge thoughts, joy thoughts, worship thoughts. The filing cabinet of thoughts has many files.

Some of these thoughts can be powerfully dominant.

It is like they take over our lives, trying to dominate everything we do. They capture us and make us slaves to their existence.

If you want to see how they do this then check out this very cool video.

What do we do though when we have thoughts that we don’t like?

We have to take control of them. We have to actually get quite determined in our attitude towards them.

The Apostle Paul writes this.

Indeed, we live as human beings, but we do not wage war according to human standards; for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

The language he uses is one of a battle going on. Power words such as weapons, warfare, power, destroy, strongholds, obstacles, captives are used.

Other translations put verse 5 in this way.

bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ AKJV
We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ NLT
taking every thought captive in order to obey the Messiah. ISV
and we carry off every thought as if into slavery--into subjection to Christ Weymouth New Testament

fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. The Message

If we dig just a little deeper into the original Greek language and look at the word used for ‘to take captive’ it is aichmalótizó meaning to take captive, subdue, ensnare. The root word, aichmalotos, means to lead captive as a prisoner of war and comes from aichme (a spear or sword).

Paul is saying that you are to take your thoughts captive at the point of a spear or sword.

What pictures form in your mind as you read this.

I have this picture of a thought floating through my brain and then I lasso the sucker (like something out of a Road Runner/ Wile  E. Coyote cartoon) and nail it down.

‘Your not getting away, I’ve got you now, you varmint thought’

Ok, some have called me a little weird at times but it is a picture that tells me that I am in control of my thoughts and not the other way round. I want to be able to grab that thought, especially the negative ones, and capture, subdue and ensnare it.

How do I do this?

With a thought journal, I prayerfully write my thoughts down.
Some people collect teaspoons, I collect quotes. I hoard the wise thoughts of others such as this one from Dawson Trotman.

Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through your fingertips

I have found this to be so true. When I pick up a pen or pencil and write down my thoughts into a journal they seem to just become more solid, real, and accessible to scrutiny.

They have been captured.

What thoughts do you need to take captive. Grab your lasso and nail the suckers!

Barry Pearman
Image by By M Glasgow Creative Commons Flickr
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How do You Respond When Someone Stabs You in the Back?

How do your respond when some one spreads rumours about you, gossips, lies, pretends to be your friend while really all they are doing is using and abusing you?

Perhaps they influence other friends to their side of the story. You are having rotten tomatoes thrown at you from people you don’t even know.

You feel at the bottom of the pile. Alone, rejected, abandoned and lost.

How do you respond?

Do you want to lash out? Take revenge, spread gossip yourself, reject them? Quietly think up schemes and plans to balance the fairness equation.

Simple words like ‘love’ and ‘forgive’ are too easily said. What you want is ‘how’. How do I demonstrate love and forgiveness?

W.D.J.T. & W.D.J.F. always preceded W.D.J.D.

‘What Did Jesus Think’ and ‘What Did Jesus Feel’ always preceded the behavioural response of ‘What Did Jesus Do’.

I like to ponder over the Jesus stories and what he must have felt and thought in the the situations he faced.

So in the last days before the cross I wonder if Jesus felt many of the feelings I have listed above. Alone, rejected, abandoned and lost.

How did he feel when all his friends abandoned him? What did he think?

One of his closet friends, Peter, denied even knowing him.

We don’t have a complete record of all the events post resurrection and how Jesus, in his glorified state, related to his flaky fallible (aren't we all) human friends.

There is one story that stands out though. It is the story of how Jesus connected with Peter. The guy that denied ever knowing him.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter,“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him,“Follow me!” John 21:15-19

Here, in this simple little breakfast conversation, Jesus demonstrates how he responds to one who has hurt him deeply. 

He looks beyond the injury, to the compelling vision he has for Peter.

He focuses not on what Peter has done, but rather on what he sees Peter is to become.

He sees Peter as someone who is to ‘feed his sheep’. Peter is to be a leader of the early church. This is Jesus’ plan and desire for Peter.

Jesus says in essence to Peter’s fragile human heart.

‘I am not going to let the past hurt obstruct the compelling vision I have for you. You have made your mistakes and they hurt, bad, but like a loving Father welcoming home a prodigal Son I have something even better in mind for you, and that is what I ponder and dream on.’

He also tells Peter that it is not all going to be smooth sailing, that he will also experience a death similar to his own.

How does all this translate into our own experience. How do we love those who gossip or malign us?

We pray.

We pray asking God to help us to see them the way he sees them. We pray asking for a compelling vision for them. A vision of them being fully alive in Christ.

The glory of God is man fully alive. Saint Irenaeus 

What would they be like, fully alive in Christ. A vision that compels you to pray for them, and yourself. 

Easy?

No!

Need Spirit (Holy) to help you with this?

Absolutely!

Why do we stab each other in the back? How do we stop? Leave a comment below. 

Barry Pearman

Image by antwerpenR Creative Commons Flickr

7 Spiritual Exercises for Enduring Mental Health

No Pain! by By Michael Connell

The 2012 Olympic games are about to begin. Team selections are being finalised, uniforms presented and bags are being packed. The athletes have been preparing themselves for many years for this very moment. Daily they would have been doing various activities that would fine tune both their bodies and their minds for success.

The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine. Mike Murdock

They practice and practice and practice. They train the brain so much so that it is hardwired to think in a particular way and then behave in a certain way. The Corinthian Christians would have seen athletes training for the Greek Olympics at Olympia, not far from them. So Paul in encourages them to undergo strict training.

²⁴ In a race all the runners run. But only one gets the prize. You know that, don't you? So run in a way that will get you the prize. ²⁵ All who take part in the games train hard. They do it to get a crown that will not last. But we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
²⁶ So I do not run like someone who doesn't run toward the finish line. I do not fight like a boxer who hits nothing but air. ²⁷ No, I train my body and bring it under control. Then after I have preached to others, I myself will not break the rules and fail to win the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

I have observed that those with good mental health have habits they follow day in day out, so that when the inevitable stressors come along they can ride the waves rather than be crushed and overwhelmed by them.

Spiritual disciplines, exercises, or habits (call them what you will) have been around a very long time.
Here are my top 7 that I believe are crucial for enduring Mental Health. 
1. Stillness. Still candles burn brighter. We can get so busy and frantic that we don't find any time to be quiet and just be. People with good mental health have learnt the habit of being still. God says to be still and know that I am God.
2. Caring for the Body. Paul tells us that our body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. Do we care for the physical needs of the body? Sleep, diet, exercise, taking of medications etc. People with great mental health learn to look after their body and treat it with care.
3. Feeding on Scripture. Rubbish in, rubbish out! What are you regularly feeding your mind. God’s word, the Bible, has to be a regular part of your daily diet. You can read large sections or maybe just a couple of verses. Write a verse on a small card and carry it around all day with you as a truth reminder. The Psalmist writes

Lord, I really love your law!
      All day long I spend time thinking about it. Psalm 119:97

4. Fellowship with a few others. Training with others is crucial. We can spur each other on, offer advise and encouragement when the going gets tough. I encourage you have at least one other person in your life to be your running buddy. Someone who run alongside you and encourage your daily run. The writer of Hebrews says this.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

5. Prayer. Spend time daily in prayer. Moment by moment offer up your thoughts as prayer. Pray both prayers of needs and thanks. You may see something, feel something or your just having a struggle. Just put it out there as a quiet prayer. Give thanks for any little thing. Develop your thought life as an on-going dialogue with God. 
6. Acts of Generosity. Look for various ways in which you can secretly give your life away. It doesn't have to be financial, it could be simple little things such as making someone a coffee, picking up a piece of rubbish on the ground, giving an encouragement. Generous people I have found have better mental health than those with stingy selfish hearts.
7. Journaling. Writing down your thoughts and feelings has a way of downloading the busyness of the mind. Its getting the clutter out, and in the process, being able to bring various thoughts, prayers, scriptures etc. to bear on what is happening to you. I prefer to do this by using pen and paper. I find there is a better cognitive effect when I journal without using a computer.

Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through your fingertips. Dawson Trotman

You might have your own list of Spiritual Exercises that you have found helpful. Share them with us by leaving a comment.
Barry Pearman
Image: Michael Connell Creative Commons Flickr
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Rewriting the Script–How to Change your Brain

O is for Occipital Lobe by illuminaut

I had heard the same thing over and over and over again from this person. Self doubts, questioning, cynicism, fears all mashed together to be an ugly serving for the day.
They had learnt the script over the whole of their lives. Repeated it, rehearsed it, played it out on so many stages that they no longer needed to look at the original script notes. They were the play. It had become them. People knew them as the person who played the part of the play, rather than the actor themselves. They had lost all connection with who they had originally been. The actor and the person they were playing were now one.
We all have a script that we follow. Influences, good and bad, have come across our lives that have shaped and moulded how we live, and how we respond to life. We have ways of thinking, looking at things.
In Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, David Burns outlines 10 common mistakes in thinking, which he calls cognitive distortions.

1. All-or-Nothing Thinking -You see things as black or white, never grey, e.g. if your performance falls short of perfect, you see yourself as a total failure.
2. Overgeneralisation - You see a single negative event as a never-ending pattern, e.g. “I messed up”, “I never get anything right”.
3. Mental Filter - You pick out a single negative detail and dwell on it exclusively so that your view of reality becomes darkened, like a drop of ink that discolours an entire glass of water.
4. Disqualifying the Positive - You reject positive experiences by insisting they “don’t count” for some reason or other. In this way you continue to see everything as negative even when your
   everyday experiences contradict this.
5. Jumping to Conclusions - You make a negative interpretation even though there are no definite facts that convincingly support your interpretation.
   a. Mind Reading: You think that someone is reacting negatively to you and you don’t try to check this out with them.
   b. The Fortune-Teller Error: You anticipate that things will turn out badly and you feel convinced that your prediction is an already established fact.
6. Magnification (Catastrophising) or Minimisation - You exaggerate the importance of things (such as your error or someone else’s
   success), or you incorrectly shrink things until they appear tiny (your own desirable qualities or the other person’s imperfections).
7. Emotional Reasoning - You believe that your negative emotions reflect the way that things really are: “I feel it, therefore it must be true”.
8. “Should” (Must, Ought To) Statements - You try to motivate yourself with “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts” as if you had to be whipped and punished before you could be expected to do anything. The emotional consequence are feelings of guilt, or being inadequate or wrong. When you tell others they “should” do something, you feel anger, frustration and resentment.
9. Labelling and Mislabelling - This is an extreme form of overgeneralisation. Instead of describing your error, you
   attach a negative label to yourself: “I’m a loser” instead of “I didn’t do that well”. When someone else’s behaviour annoys you, you judge him/her as a “loser”. Mislabelling is describing an event with harsh, emotional or judging statements.
10. Personalisation - You blame yourself for being the cause of some negative event for which you were not responsible. So, for example, if something goes wrong and affects others negatively, you take on the blame for it and feel bad.

Any seem familiar to you?
Both you and I need help. We have ways of thinking and processing life that affects our relationship with God and with others.
One of the ways I like to challenge my thinking errors, or the railway tracks of my brain, is to have a consistent diet of truth. I do this by regularly reading my Bible.
Recently I have set myself a goal of reading the whole Bible in a year. Now there are many different reading plans that can help you. I have settled on a plan written by 19th century Scottish preacher Murray McCheyne which takes readers through the New Testament and Psalms twice a year, and through the rest of the Bible once each year. It takes about 20 –25 minutes each day. I do this as the first activity of the day. When my brain is open and ready to receive new input and hasn't been tangled up by the activities of the day.
By the way, how did you react to my idea of daily reading the Bible? Check it out with the common thinking errors list above. What common thinking error did your brain use to try discount the idea of having a daily dose of truth?
I could list off a few of them that would try and stop me allowing God to rewrite my script, but listen to what the writer of Hebrews has to say.

God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it—no matter what. Hebrews 4:12 (The Message)

May you daily allow your mind to be edited by Gods word.
What thinking errors dominate your mind? How would reading God’s word change them? Leave a comment.
Barry Pearman
Image by illuminaut Creative Commons Flickr
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When Faced with Temptation have some Unforbidden Fruit

Exotic Fruit Gift Basket by Janet Hudson

Recently I attended a CD launch for Johnny Matteson’s CD Song of the Streets. It was a great night with great live music, great company, great food and, last but not least, great liquid refreshments.
As I sat down chatting to my husband Andrew, eating canapés and sipping my orange juice, I was enjoying myself immensely. Then the aroma of red wine drifted into my nostrils. It was a beautiful smell. And it struck me, I could enjoy all this wonderful experience but there was one thing I could not do and that was have a glass of that wine.
I am a recovering alcoholic.
To be quite honest after 20 years it’s no longer a big issue in my life. My life is full of fun and exciting experiences, and I don’t need the alcohol.

The moment I started concentrating on not having the drink I felt deprived.

And for once, just for once, it was not that I wanted to have the effects or taste of that drink, but I wanted to be able to drink that drink if I wanted to.
The temptation was in being told “I should not have this thing that is available.”
Suddenly Genesis 2 made more sense to me than it ever has. I understood a little more the self-will that is behind sin. It is choosing my way not God’s way”

And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it you will certainly die.” Genesis 2: 16

Notice how God puts the positive in the verse before the negative.

God actually concentrates on what we can do rather than what we can’t do.

When I was in the CD launch the second part of this verse came to mind but not the first. Is that because we focus on what we can’t do rather than what we can?
Then I thought about Jesus. In the gospel he is a “Can do” person. He can turn water into wine to help someone out, he can talk to misfits and outcasts. He focuses on positives not what He and we cannot do. Sure there are something’s Jesus says not to do but the main focus is on what we can do.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets depends on these two commandments.” Matthew 22: 37-40

The can’t is secondary to the can.
If you move on to Genesis 3 the serpent concentrates on the negative and even twists what God said. “You can’t eat from any tree in the garden.”Genesis 3:1. The women fights back with the original message from God and then the serpent draws her attention to the negative again. The rest is history as she focuses on the succulent forbidden fruit.
In my Christian walk I have come across a lot of people who focus on the negatives. You can’t do this, you can’t do that. In fact while it is good not to do many of the things that they say we shouldn’t, it is more important to focus on a life of can do’s.
What do you focus on, the Can’s or the Cant's. Comment below.
Janine Blackburn
Image by Janet Hudson Creative Commons Flicker
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Why it’s Ok to be Inadequate - Soul Talk

Hand by Jeff Kubina

I listen to stories. Lots of them. Some of them are good, some not so good.
The story tellers tell me tales of all sorts of things. The journeys they have been on, the experiences had, people they have encountered, memories made.
Some of the journeys they share have left them like wounded soldiers returning shell shocked from the front line. They have Post Traumatic Stress Disorders, Dissociative Identity Disorders where they have created other personalities to just cope with life, Psychotic disorders, Depression, Anxiety etc.
They have formed various adequate ways of coping to get through life. Some would appear to the outside world as everything is perfect and lovely, but when with me they are able to drop the stage curtain to expose backstage what is really going on.
They feel safe.
Song lyrics of John Lennon float through my brain.

People say I'm crazy doing what I'm doing
Well they give me all kinds of warnings to save me from ruin
When I say that I'm o.k. well they look at me kind of strange

The most significant learning that I have encountered in my journeying with others is to embrace inadequacy.

Now that just goes completely against human logic. We told that we need to gain some sort of adequacy. That we are capable, that I can do this, I am sufficient, I have the skills and knowledge to make a difference.
Yes, knowledge etc. all have their place, but it they become the crucial thing you rely on, then you won’t get far in listening to the Soul, to the story.
I am inadequate to embrace the story, but I know some one who is.
In my relationship with God I find some level of adequacy to quietly sit and listen to the stories of others.
People want supernatural change in their lives, but they won’t find it through natural man made methods.

Supernatural change requires supernatural resources. 

Something needs to happen way beyond my competency and adequacy.
After listening to some one and hearing a microscopic level of supernatural change I often just scratch my head and ask myself ‘How did that happen’?
My inadequacy is an invitation for Spirit (Holy) to come and move.
I don't want to get in the way of what Daddy (The Father), Jesus and Spirit might be up to. I don't want to step on their toes. More so, I just want to join in the dance with them.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

What ‘thoughts’ would God be thinking about the story being related to you? How does God consider what is being said? Am I listening to God or to my thoughts and adequacies? What are the ‘ways’ of God for this person and for myself?

Competent people do a good job—dentists, plumbers, schoolteachers, and technicians—but it is inadequate people, people who know that they are inadequate, that become effectively usable by God, by the Spirit of God in the work of Soul Care. Larry Crabb

Want to see deep change in others lives?
Embrace inadequacy. Scary but good!
What is your natural reaction to a sense of inadequacy? Comment below.
Barry Pearman
Image by Jeff Kubina
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Two Anointing's for the King

embonpoint by jenny downing

A small rickety cart pulls up outside the darkened house. Large heavy jugs are carried inside the wealthy Nicodemus’s home and the door is quickly closed. Unplugging the jugs the women reach in and scoop their hands in the ointment they are going to rub on their King.
The dead limp body lies helpless on the table. Wiped clean with tears of love, the scars, the puncture wounds are all to be seen.
Fragrance wafts around the room. 100lbs (45kg) of anointing oils are massaged into the shroud. The King is wrapped in perfume. The final lingering memory is one of scent.
The body is carried to a cave, placed on a shelf, left all alone, gone forever. Tears drip on the ground where the stone will soon become a plug. No light in, no light out.

Anointing one complete.

The servant King has been bid farewell.
Dust stirs, air movement, breathe of heaven flowing in.

Anointing number two is underway.

Energy flowing, light coming to penetrate darkness. Spirit dancing, flowing, weaving, excited in expectancy of this welcome back to life. Father’s arms out wide, welcoming and warm.
Satan in stunned despair.
The fragrant clothes are politely unwrapped and placed on the shelf.
Body now pink and glowing, brilliant light dazzling, blinding to mortal eyes.
Soldiers unconscious as the stone is rolled away.
Someone had to live to experience death.
Someone had to die so someone could experience life.

Two anointing's for the King. One in sorrow, one in joy.

Anointed resurrection power still breaks through our stony hearts, boxed dogmatic views, and human fears. 
Resurrection Sunday is the day that shouts ‘Change is possible’ and we at this moment have only but tasted a small sample of what Christ the risen saviour can do.
How is resurrection power transforming your life? Leave a comment below.
Want to read more? Download my sermon Death precedes Resurrection in free resources.
Barry Pearman
Get a copy of my Free eBook The Unguided Pastoral Missile
Image by Jenny Downing Creative commons Flicker

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The Unguided Pastoral Missile goes Free!

Like a life changing eBook for Free?

A few weeks ago I published my first eBook called The Unguided Pastoral Missile. It contains 5 things I believe everyone needs to know if they are going to help others.
These have been tried and tested, and I keep coming back to them every week to help me.
They have helped me and they will help you.
So I am giving the book away, for free.

Here is all you have to do

1. Go to Smashwords and download a copy in whatever format best suits you.
2. Subscribe to Turning the Page and get regular emails by great authors with life changing content.
3. Like the Turning the Page Facebook page!
4. Consider making a financial donation to Turning the Page via PayPal. What was the information in this eBook worth to you, 99c, more?
5. Be contagious! share the book with others, tell them about us, tell me about you!
6. Leave a review on the Smashwords site about the book

More eBooks to come.
Barry
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What my Vicar did as Me

Cartoon by B.C.

I really should have taken the consequences, I deserved the punishment.

I watched him walk through the streets with that wooden cross. He had already been beaten to a pulp. His path to the killing ground could be traced by drops of blood now trampled on by the crowd.

I stood a comfortable distance away. Not too close as I might just be recognised. I tried to be close last night but someone recognised me. I denied ever knowing him. What a self-protecting coward I am.

I want him to see me, to see my pain and regret. Perhaps he might forgive me and if possible hold me. No, too dangerous for my heart. I have discovered who I am. I am a wretched man, nothing good resides in me.

Look at him though, groaning under the weight. He is perfect. He has never done anything wrong, nothing. He lived a perfect life. No blemishes on his record sheet, but now he is about to die a criminals death.

He looks at me, I take a gasp.

His eyes penetrate to the basement of my soul like a spear of light into a chasm of darkness.

Fear floods me. Is it rejection at the sight of my sinful wretched state, or is it love?

Why, it’s  love! I don't deserve this, I certainly haven't earned it, even though I have tried to. I wasn't even aware of just how dark my soul was until the spear of light invaded it.

The Vicar moves forward.

Oscillating, I move forward and back. I don't know whether to run and hide from him, something I am familiar with, or to allow his approach to embrace me.

I am stuck, glued to the dirt below a cross.

I should be up there.

The nailed Vicar, spear wound in his side, dies as me.

Vicar Jesus took his name from the word ‘vicarious’. 

Suffering in the place of another: vicarious punishment. 

Taking the place of another; acting or serving as a substitute.
We had vicarious lambs as sacrifices but they were never perfect enough.

He forever has been and will be perfect. He lived the perfect life yet died a criminals death. The perfect lamb of God who took away my sin.

It should have been me.

How are you at receiving gifts, perfect, undeserved and unwarranted gifts? Comment below.

Barry Pearman
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