Mind Renovation - Chapter Excerpts
Chapter 1 “Oops, my infinity is showing.”
At first glance, it may appear that life is finite―we run out of money, our grandparents rarely live past a hundred, and a man’s underwear eventually evaporates. The world advises us to enjoy the here and now, because that is all we have. Natural human thinking tends to see limits before possibilities, boundaries before infinity. Few people can see beyond what is right before their eyes.
Chapter 2 “My son’s name ticks off a lot of people.”
It is obvious that the name of Jesus induces far more negative responses than positive. It’s okay to believe in God. But tell people you are a follower of Jesus Christ and they are immediately offended, or at least uncomfortable. Why does our Savior’s name make people angry?
Chapter 3 “True greatness serves.”
The essence of Jesus’ teaching is that true greatness serves. Most people in the world don’t naturally gravitate to this perspective, but it is at the core of God’s thinking. There are a lot of talented people in the world, but the measure of true greatness in the annals of eternity is the capacity of the heart to humble itself and serve others. It consists of the ability to be unselfish, to see the needs and desires of others as more important than our own, no matter who we are.
Chapter 4 “I’m looking for a few good words.”
To put it succinctly, we talk too much. Even though our ears outnumber our mouths two to one, humans have a proclivity for verbiage. For many of us, the temptation to dominate a conversation is overwhelmingly delicious.
Chapter 5 “Sin—what a waste!”
Regardless of how we see our sin, God sees it as a horrendous defilement of his plan. It violates his holy character and necessitated the murder of his innocent son, Jesus. We can’t begin to comprehend how sin grieves the heart of our Creator. But we also blind ourselves to the tangible desecration caused by our offenses. Sin trashes everything in God’s Creation, like a gang of ignorant thugs senselessly tearing through a china shop with the sole purpose of causing as much destruction as possible. Our rebellion ravages all that could be used for good.
Chapter 6 “I am tolerant of intolerance.”
In today’s society, it seems that one of the most heinous labels that can be assigned to a person is the tag of intolerance. Gluttony, selfishness, cowardice―yes, these are bad behaviors―but the hideous and grotesque monster lurking amongst us, we are told, is the person who is intolerant, especially the religious kind. Human thinking at this point in history has arrived at a rather perplexing paradigm regarding personal discernment. Historians may look back at this period in Western philosophy as a time when it was illegal, or certainly ill-advised, to have an opinion on moral matters.
Chapter 7 “I love to find lost things.”
Today, satellite technology has eliminated some of the likelihood of getting lost. Whether at sea, up on a mountain, or hiking in the middle of the boonies, GPS tracking devices allow us to pinpoint our location with amazing accuracy. Such technology has given us an exaggerated sense of confidence in knowing where we are. Although we may be able to find our way out of a forest with ease or retrace the exact spot where the fish were biting so furiously yesterday, mankind is still far more lost than we realize.
Chapter 8 “Orphans and widows are particularly dear to my heart.”
To get lost in our own worlds and neglect the poor, the underdog, the widow, or the foreigner in an oppressive situation is to be remiss. God holds a special place in his heart for the defenseless, and he wants us to do likewise. He values the weak, and takes special notice of their hardship and affliction. To think like God is to be more perceptive to the needs of the downtrodden, and to respond timely and tangibly.
Chapter 9 “No, seriously, my clock’s not broken.”
Generally, Western civilization runs rigidly by the clock. We want to know when things are going to happen and how long they will last, and we don’t like to wait longer than necessary. We want things to happen sooner than later. We like to execute our plans promptly once they become clear in our minds. We scurry here and there, hoping the current event finishes fast enough to make it to the next one.
Chapter 10 “You might want to pay more attention to conspiracy theories.”
Conspiracies imply that there is more than meets the eye, that there are sinister forces at work in the events around us. As a believer, why should this surprise us? In fact, should we not expect it since the Devil runs the world system at the present time? God wants us to know that the spirit realm is active in world affairs.
Chapter 11 “I like to ask a lot of questions.”
It is common to think of the Bible as a book of answers. In reality, it should also be recognized as a collection of questions that God asks in an attempt to challenge and change our thinking. Scripture is replete with commands and positive encouragements. But there are also an abundance of questions that God has for us to consider…Typically, we spend a lot of time asking God questions. Perhaps we should spend more time attempting to answer the ones he has asked us.
Chapter 12 “Dads are awesome too.”
If aliens peered down on our planet from outer space and tuned into our satellite TV signals, they would probably come to at least one certain conclusion about the human race―that men are idiots. Even though our political and economic spheres are still largely tipped in favor of the male species, the marketing media in the social arena portray men as buffoons…In the mind of God, however, both father-bashing and father-absenteeism are foreign concepts.
Chapter 13 “I do look at the heart, but I also appreciate a well-trained mind and body.”
We need to think more deeply about God’s view of the total human package. Left alone, it’s easy for us to think one-dimensionally. The soul that cares little for the Savior may focus solely on outward appearance. The saved sinner, on the way to Heaven, may neglect the rigors necessary to realize remarkable human accomplishment. Both perspectives are incomplete on their own.
Chapter 14 “I do some of my best work on mountains.”
We often view mountains as a retreat from the real world, from what supposedly really matters... In God’s paradigm, however, mountains seem to play a different role. They are not the place to escape from what supposedly really matters, but rather the place to go to experience true reality. For God, real life happens on mountains. In fact, reading his Word could lead one to conclude that he does some of his best spiritual work on mountains.
Chapter 15 “Yah, you’re right. I am a little old-fashioned.”
Pop quiz—why are we so infatuated with things that are new? From a human perspective, new always seems better than old. Sometimes it’s true. My new Accord is safer and gets better mileage than the old sedans of the 1950’s. Today’s hand-held devices are certainly an improvement over the elephantine computers we had when I was in high school. Taupe is definitely more attractive than turquoise. And when pocket-sized electronic calculators hit the market in the 1970’s, they performed only four basic functions and cost $100. Yes, new can be better…but not always.
Chapter 16 “I hope you don’t mind that I can be a little mysterious.”
No matter how long we have been on the road of pursuing God, we may still be tempted to put him in a box. It’s only natural—we want to understand him and what he’s doing. We want to explain him to others who are also wondering about the methods and mechanism of the Almighty…But part of understanding how God thinks involves occasional concessions on our part. There are times when we need to release him to be who he is without us ‘getting it’. There are times when we simply need to accept the puzzling facts before us and give up our obsession with figuring things out.
Chapter 17 “What do you want to be saved from?”
Can you hear Jesus speaking to you today? “You know my child, I didn’t come just to save you from your problems, but to save you from the domination of sin in your life”…Jesus’ primary interest is not to make us rich, healthy, powerful, or famous, but to save us from slavery to sin, Satan, and death. Jesus comes not to make the pain go away, but to show us how to live through the pain and chaos in his strength, and to glorify God by our actions. This is a Kingdom where bad things happen to good people so the rest of the world gets a chance to see the power of God manifested in our weakness.
Chapter 18 “My Kingdom is the exact opposite of everything you’d expect.”
A human perspective of kings and kingdoms stands in stark contrast to God’s Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is so foreign to human contemplation, we need great spiritual enlightenment to pry open its mysteries. Even in Jesus’ day, they didn’t get it. He was continually confronted with confused thinking about his Father’s Kingdom.
Chapter 19 “It’s a home run!”
Our hearts are always hungry for home…Because of this common human longing for home, it’s reasonable to assume that God has instilled this instinct within us. But, as usual, this God-given desire has been twisted by human thinking. Instead of hungering to be at home with God, this natural pining for home has turned into a fascination and preoccupation with our earthly houses. Where God has wired us to find all our comfort and security in him, we still believe we might find it in a bigger and nicer home.
Chapter 20 “Are you dying to meet me?”
In no uncertain terms, in the face of mortal danger, the Apostle Paul boldly stated, “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain”(Philippians 1:21 NIV). If I were honest, and spoke my true feelings out loud, I might be heard to say, “For me, to live is to have lots of good friends, happy family memories, and a bunch of cool stuff—and to die is a bummer.” When I compare what Paul said to what I might say in a moment of weakness or vulnerability, I would conclude that one of us is psychotic, detached from reality. My guess is that person is not Paul…How is it that we have become so disconnected from the truth regarding matters of life and death? Why do we hunger more for an earthly home than a heavenly one? Why is it so hard to genuinely look forward to Heaven, with absolutely no fear of death?
At first glance, it may appear that life is finite―we run out of money, our grandparents rarely live past a hundred, and a man’s underwear eventually evaporates. The world advises us to enjoy the here and now, because that is all we have. Natural human thinking tends to see limits before possibilities, boundaries before infinity. Few people can see beyond what is right before their eyes.
Chapter 2 “My son’s name ticks off a lot of people.”
It is obvious that the name of Jesus induces far more negative responses than positive. It’s okay to believe in God. But tell people you are a follower of Jesus Christ and they are immediately offended, or at least uncomfortable. Why does our Savior’s name make people angry?
Chapter 3 “True greatness serves.”
The essence of Jesus’ teaching is that true greatness serves. Most people in the world don’t naturally gravitate to this perspective, but it is at the core of God’s thinking. There are a lot of talented people in the world, but the measure of true greatness in the annals of eternity is the capacity of the heart to humble itself and serve others. It consists of the ability to be unselfish, to see the needs and desires of others as more important than our own, no matter who we are.
Chapter 4 “I’m looking for a few good words.”
To put it succinctly, we talk too much. Even though our ears outnumber our mouths two to one, humans have a proclivity for verbiage. For many of us, the temptation to dominate a conversation is overwhelmingly delicious.
Chapter 5 “Sin—what a waste!”
Regardless of how we see our sin, God sees it as a horrendous defilement of his plan. It violates his holy character and necessitated the murder of his innocent son, Jesus. We can’t begin to comprehend how sin grieves the heart of our Creator. But we also blind ourselves to the tangible desecration caused by our offenses. Sin trashes everything in God’s Creation, like a gang of ignorant thugs senselessly tearing through a china shop with the sole purpose of causing as much destruction as possible. Our rebellion ravages all that could be used for good.
Chapter 6 “I am tolerant of intolerance.”
In today’s society, it seems that one of the most heinous labels that can be assigned to a person is the tag of intolerance. Gluttony, selfishness, cowardice―yes, these are bad behaviors―but the hideous and grotesque monster lurking amongst us, we are told, is the person who is intolerant, especially the religious kind. Human thinking at this point in history has arrived at a rather perplexing paradigm regarding personal discernment. Historians may look back at this period in Western philosophy as a time when it was illegal, or certainly ill-advised, to have an opinion on moral matters.
Chapter 7 “I love to find lost things.”
Today, satellite technology has eliminated some of the likelihood of getting lost. Whether at sea, up on a mountain, or hiking in the middle of the boonies, GPS tracking devices allow us to pinpoint our location with amazing accuracy. Such technology has given us an exaggerated sense of confidence in knowing where we are. Although we may be able to find our way out of a forest with ease or retrace the exact spot where the fish were biting so furiously yesterday, mankind is still far more lost than we realize.
Chapter 8 “Orphans and widows are particularly dear to my heart.”
To get lost in our own worlds and neglect the poor, the underdog, the widow, or the foreigner in an oppressive situation is to be remiss. God holds a special place in his heart for the defenseless, and he wants us to do likewise. He values the weak, and takes special notice of their hardship and affliction. To think like God is to be more perceptive to the needs of the downtrodden, and to respond timely and tangibly.
Chapter 9 “No, seriously, my clock’s not broken.”
Generally, Western civilization runs rigidly by the clock. We want to know when things are going to happen and how long they will last, and we don’t like to wait longer than necessary. We want things to happen sooner than later. We like to execute our plans promptly once they become clear in our minds. We scurry here and there, hoping the current event finishes fast enough to make it to the next one.
Chapter 10 “You might want to pay more attention to conspiracy theories.”
Conspiracies imply that there is more than meets the eye, that there are sinister forces at work in the events around us. As a believer, why should this surprise us? In fact, should we not expect it since the Devil runs the world system at the present time? God wants us to know that the spirit realm is active in world affairs.
Chapter 11 “I like to ask a lot of questions.”
It is common to think of the Bible as a book of answers. In reality, it should also be recognized as a collection of questions that God asks in an attempt to challenge and change our thinking. Scripture is replete with commands and positive encouragements. But there are also an abundance of questions that God has for us to consider…Typically, we spend a lot of time asking God questions. Perhaps we should spend more time attempting to answer the ones he has asked us.
Chapter 12 “Dads are awesome too.”
If aliens peered down on our planet from outer space and tuned into our satellite TV signals, they would probably come to at least one certain conclusion about the human race―that men are idiots. Even though our political and economic spheres are still largely tipped in favor of the male species, the marketing media in the social arena portray men as buffoons…In the mind of God, however, both father-bashing and father-absenteeism are foreign concepts.
Chapter 13 “I do look at the heart, but I also appreciate a well-trained mind and body.”
We need to think more deeply about God’s view of the total human package. Left alone, it’s easy for us to think one-dimensionally. The soul that cares little for the Savior may focus solely on outward appearance. The saved sinner, on the way to Heaven, may neglect the rigors necessary to realize remarkable human accomplishment. Both perspectives are incomplete on their own.
Chapter 14 “I do some of my best work on mountains.”
We often view mountains as a retreat from the real world, from what supposedly really matters... In God’s paradigm, however, mountains seem to play a different role. They are not the place to escape from what supposedly really matters, but rather the place to go to experience true reality. For God, real life happens on mountains. In fact, reading his Word could lead one to conclude that he does some of his best spiritual work on mountains.
Chapter 15 “Yah, you’re right. I am a little old-fashioned.”
Pop quiz—why are we so infatuated with things that are new? From a human perspective, new always seems better than old. Sometimes it’s true. My new Accord is safer and gets better mileage than the old sedans of the 1950’s. Today’s hand-held devices are certainly an improvement over the elephantine computers we had when I was in high school. Taupe is definitely more attractive than turquoise. And when pocket-sized electronic calculators hit the market in the 1970’s, they performed only four basic functions and cost $100. Yes, new can be better…but not always.
Chapter 16 “I hope you don’t mind that I can be a little mysterious.”
No matter how long we have been on the road of pursuing God, we may still be tempted to put him in a box. It’s only natural—we want to understand him and what he’s doing. We want to explain him to others who are also wondering about the methods and mechanism of the Almighty…But part of understanding how God thinks involves occasional concessions on our part. There are times when we need to release him to be who he is without us ‘getting it’. There are times when we simply need to accept the puzzling facts before us and give up our obsession with figuring things out.
Chapter 17 “What do you want to be saved from?”
Can you hear Jesus speaking to you today? “You know my child, I didn’t come just to save you from your problems, but to save you from the domination of sin in your life”…Jesus’ primary interest is not to make us rich, healthy, powerful, or famous, but to save us from slavery to sin, Satan, and death. Jesus comes not to make the pain go away, but to show us how to live through the pain and chaos in his strength, and to glorify God by our actions. This is a Kingdom where bad things happen to good people so the rest of the world gets a chance to see the power of God manifested in our weakness.
Chapter 18 “My Kingdom is the exact opposite of everything you’d expect.”
A human perspective of kings and kingdoms stands in stark contrast to God’s Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is so foreign to human contemplation, we need great spiritual enlightenment to pry open its mysteries. Even in Jesus’ day, they didn’t get it. He was continually confronted with confused thinking about his Father’s Kingdom.
Chapter 19 “It’s a home run!”
Our hearts are always hungry for home…Because of this common human longing for home, it’s reasonable to assume that God has instilled this instinct within us. But, as usual, this God-given desire has been twisted by human thinking. Instead of hungering to be at home with God, this natural pining for home has turned into a fascination and preoccupation with our earthly houses. Where God has wired us to find all our comfort and security in him, we still believe we might find it in a bigger and nicer home.
Chapter 20 “Are you dying to meet me?”
In no uncertain terms, in the face of mortal danger, the Apostle Paul boldly stated, “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain”(Philippians 1:21 NIV). If I were honest, and spoke my true feelings out loud, I might be heard to say, “For me, to live is to have lots of good friends, happy family memories, and a bunch of cool stuff—and to die is a bummer.” When I compare what Paul said to what I might say in a moment of weakness or vulnerability, I would conclude that one of us is psychotic, detached from reality. My guess is that person is not Paul…How is it that we have become so disconnected from the truth regarding matters of life and death? Why do we hunger more for an earthly home than a heavenly one? Why is it so hard to genuinely look forward to Heaven, with absolutely no fear of death?