Deprogramming for Emotional and Spiritual Health

Smartphones have apps on them — computer programs that accomplish tasks and effect performance. Any app that is on the phone changes the phone — some for the better, some for the worse.

Materialism App

We’re like that phone. We live in a world system that offers us apps that influence us. In fact, whether we install the apps into our lives or not, we can’t deny their influence. Perhaps some of the apps come bundled into our lives as the sinful nature. Others are ones that come without warning. Still, others, are ones we foolishly install without first determining how safe they really are.

This podcast suggest three apps we might have in our lives that, if we are going to be emotionally and spiritually healthy, must be removed.

How to Grow Spiritually

Presented 4.28.2013

Remember when you were a kid and you couldn’t wait to be an adult? Now, as an adult, I sometimes wish I could go back to those carefree days of childhood.

But besides the fact that I can’t go back, I know I couldn’t stand to go back. Growing is a good thing. Maturing is what we are supposed to do. And we all know men and women who never grew up, right? That’s not pleasant.

Spiritually speaking, the Bible warns us not to remain immature. God wants us to grow up, spiritually.

This podcast speaks of how we can grow up — mature — spiritually speaking, by borrowing and elaborating on Bill Bright’s Five Principles for Growth.

 

Navigating the Susquehanna… like a log?!

When I was a kid, I spend hours playing in the creeks and streams that flowed through the farm I grew up on. My buddy and I would put sticks into the water, pretend they were boats, and from our position on the bank, we’d navigate them “down-river” with longer sticks. We always thought it would be neat to have radio controlled boats that could navigate the waters with intentionality rather than just being pushed around.

When I think of the two options (being a log floating downstream without the ability to navigate or being a power vessel with the ability to turn, stop, start, accelerate and decelerate) I imagine myself moving through life. There have been times when I kind of floated along, getting hung up and snagged, not making progress. Like a log floating down the Susquehanna, my progress was entirely dependent on my surroundings. But there are other times when I have motored along, navigating the rapids skillfully.

This sermon speaks about our need to keep an eye on how we are navigating life. And underlying all else in the podcast is the truth that we can only do so as we submit to the influence, empowerment, and direction of the Spirit.