CHRISTIAN PARENTS of ESTRANGED ADULT CHILDREN Community Group
Estrangement makes it difficult to talk about with family, friends, neighbors and church members. Christians are NOT immune to broken families. Talk about your experiences with those who know how you feel and get positive support through your Christian faith...."In these last days difficult times will come, for men will be lovers of self...disobedient to parents,...
If we can offer solutions that might benefit others it is a win-win for all. The former pastor of my church was Dr. Norman Vincent Peale who wrote a famous book called "The Power of Positive Thinking." He wrote many other best-sellers as well. I highly recommend it to all. He talks about the very real power of love, forgiveness, and positive thinking. I hope no one is offended by, and that all will comment on this topic. Here is an excerpt:
--Austere perseverance, harsh and continuous, may be employed by the smallest of us and rarely fails of its purpose, for its silent power grows irresistibly greater with time." That is to say, just keep on trying -- that will do it. This refusal to quit is called the persistence principle. Sadly enough, we hear little about persistence in this soft, permissive era. But as America historically produced strong men, the importance of persistence was constantly driven into the consciousness of youth. They were told to fight the good fight and never let anything throw them, and if it did, get right back up and attack the difficulty, hit it hard and then some, and keep on no matter what. Perseverance -- that was the key word then, and it still remains the basic principle for anyone who wants to achieve their goal.
--Austere perseverance, harsh and continuous, may be employed by the smallest of us and rarely fails of its purpose, for its silent power grows irresistibly greater with time." That is to say, just keep on trying -- that will do it. This refusal to quit is called the persistence principle. Sadly enough, we hear little about persistence in this soft, permissive era. But as America historically produced strong men, the importance of persistence was constantly driven into the consciousness of youth. They were told to fight the good fight and never let anything throw them, and if it did, get right back up and attack the difficulty, hit it hard and then some, and keep on no matter what. Perseverance -- that was the key word then, and it still remains the basic principle for anyone who wants to achieve their goal.
James 1:12 - God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
I have had times where I have 'felt' so angry and outraged at what is happening to us. But God always sends a reminder that we are three part beings - body, soul and spirit. We have to make the decision to let our spirit man rule and not our flesh.
Patience isn't always just calmly and sweetly sitting and waiting for God to fix things; it is going on with life with faith trusting that God has a great plan for our lives and is faithful to fulfill it. This isn't always easy but God gives us His grace and mercy new everyday to get through; even if it is just one day, one hour or even one minute at a time.
A few quotes from 'Let us Reason Ministries' .....
~ " He was a member of the Woodbridge Lodge in Brooklyn, grand chaplain of the grand lodge in NY, life member of the crescent shrine temple in Trenton N.J. and past imperial grand chaplain of the shrine. Peale wrote in the Masonic Magazine, stating, "Men of different religions meet in fellowship and brotherhood under the fatherhood of God....
~ "If anyone does not know what Masonry teaches it is anti Christ to the max. When one reaches the highest degrees they find that the God of the bible is the devil and Lucifer the light bearer is the real God. They also believe that good works will give them entrance to Gods kingdom they call the heavenly lodge.
~ Peale's spirituality is not Christian but New Thought and are embraced among evangelicals who have not discerned its origin. Peale's message was the power of the mind.... Your unconscious mind... [has a] power that turns wishes into realities when the wishes are strong enough.'(Norman V. Peale Positive Imaging p.77)
In 1984 Norman Vincent Peale was interviewed on the Phil Donahue program, said, "It's not necessary to be born again. You have your way to God; I have mine. I found eternal peace in a Shinto shrine ...I've been to Shinto shrines, and God is everywhere:" Shocked by this, Phil Donahue responded, "But you're a Christian minister; you're supposed to tell me that Christ is the way and the truth and the life, aren't you?" Peale replied, "Christ is one of the ways. God is everywhere." (Christian News, May 12, 1997, 11.) Would anyone who holds to Christ being there Lord deny him in such a blatant manner? This is beyond question a horrible statement that rejects Christ's Lordship. Donahue was shocked and rightly so, but the church was not. He received no backlash or correction for this. Peale was a universalist, believing that everyone is going to heaven as long as they believe in god, any god. That is not a Christian position.
http://www.letusreason.org/Poptea2.htm
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Quotes from 'The Watchman Fellowship'.....
~ One of these is Norman Vincent Peale, publisher of Guidepost magazine and writer of many books including the best selling Power of Positive Thinking. Our conclusion after much research is that Norman Vincent Peale is a universalist, that is, he believes that everyone is going to heaven if they believe in a god, and have some redeeming value, which is just about everyone. This is evidenced by several situations documented in Peale's life.
~ Found on the cover of the book The Game of Life by metaphysician Florence Shinn, is Peale's endorsement, "By studying and practicing the principles laid down in this book, one may find prosperity, solve problems, have better health, achieve good personal relations - in a word win the game of life. The Game of Life is filled with wisdom and creative insights. That its teachings will work I know to be a fact, for I've long used them myself."
What are these teachings? "Jesus Christ knew in reality, there is no evil There is an old legend that Adam and Eve ate of `Maya the Tree of Illusion' Therefore evil is a false law man has made for himself... has been hypnotized by the race belief (of sin, sickness, and death) which is carnal or mortal thought," (p. 30.)
~ "...in a recent interview with Beth Ann Krier of the Los Angeles Times, Peale said, "I don't know much about that New Age business. I have received critical letters that I belong to the New Age. I've got to look into it and see what it is. But anything that develops legitimate, positive thinking principles, I'm for it."
http://www.watchman.org/articles/other-religious-topics/norman-vincent-peale/
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The Rev. Billy Graham said at the National Council of Churches on June 12, 1966 that "I don't know of anyone who had done more for the kingdom of God than Norman and Ruth Peale or have meant any more in my life for the encouragement they have given me."[25]
Upon hearing of Dr. Peale's death, U.S. President Bill Clinton had this to say: The name of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale will forever be associated with the wondrously American values of optimism and service. Dr. Peale was an optimist who believed that, whatever the antagonisms and complexities of modern life brought us, anyone could prevail by approaching life with a simple sense of faith. And he served us by instilling that optimism in every Christian and every other person who came in contact with his writings or his hopeful soul. In a productive and giving life that spanned the 20th century, Dr. Peale lifted the spirits of millions and millions of people who were nourished and sustained by his example, his teaching, and his giving. While the Clinton family and all Americans mourn his loss, there is some poetry in his passing on a day when the world celebrates the birth of Christ, an idea that was central to Dr. Peale's message and Dr. Peale's work. He will be missed.[26]
It can be daunting and confusing to stay on the script as many of the messages are good to read.
When in doubt I actually google the phrase and I have been shocked at the origins of some of our most popular phrases.
AllK
Sorry
AllK
2 Peter 2:1-3..."But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
1 Timothy 4:1-3..."Now the Spirit says clearly that in the last times some people will abandon the faith by following deceitful spirits, the teachings of demons,
epic...as far as Bill Clinton's endorsement goes, isn't he the one that said, "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is. If the--if he--if 'is' means is and never has been, that is not--that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement..."?
Billy Graham? I had a huge amount of respect for him because he played a large role in our family's coming to Christ during his crusades. But that changed during his latter years when I became disillusioned upon learning that he began to endorse endorsed universalism too.
There are many, many, many preachers out there that do and say good things and still can be that wolf in sheep's clothing. They are cloaked in sheep's clothing so that they cannot be easily identified as being false teachers. When the serpent appealed to Eve, he used God's Words - but with a subtle twist. Because of her weakness, she did not question the serpents false re-invention of what God had told them in the Garden.
But, as far as the context goes, yes, context is important. However, if it is a direct quote of what NVP said, then it is what it is and it has not been refuted as his not saying those words.
This very verse is why I am so adamant sometimes about the "right words"...even a very subtle twist as we rephrase or paraphrase a verse...a sentence...take something out of context...it is why I ask sometimes here and in my real life...pls define what you mean by....(whatever the word is)...if it drives you guys crazy you are in good company it drives hubby crazy sometimes too LOL
The lack of clear understanding and communication whether secular or religious regarding words and their meaning cause many many problems in estrangement or just generally in life. on the internet it is even harder as we do not see facial expressions or inflections which would also help clarify as is the problem with texting.
Anyway sorry for the off topic lenghty post the verses just hit a chord in me Guelsmom...
Thanks
AllK
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From: Some Concerns about Norman Vincent Peale and the Power of Positive Thinking by Richard G. Howe, Ph.D.
The "Power" in the Power of Positive Thinking
Second, regarding the "power" of positive thinking; my allegation here is that this power
of which Peale speaks fits neither of these notions of power from God in any biblical sense of the
term as I discussed above. Instead Peale's "positive" power is a blending of some aspects of both
of these biblical (and Christian world view) notions while at the same time being strangely and
deficiently different from other aspects. To illustrate this, let us go to Peale himself.
In relating this power to God, Peale comments "Contact with God establishes within us a
flow of the same type of energy that re-creates the world and that renews springtime every year.
When in spiritual contact with God through our thought processes, the Divine energy flows
through the personality, automatically renewing the original creative act." (p. 41)
This type of thinking should sound familiar to anyone who has studied New Thought, New Age, or Occult Philosophy.
http://richardghowe.com/Peale.pdf
From: Some Concerns about Norman Vincent Peale and the Power of Positive Thinking by Richard G. Howe, Ph.D.
The "Power" in the Power of Positive Thinking
Second, regarding the "power" of positive thinking; my allegation here is that this power
of which Peale speaks fits neither of these notions of power from God in any biblical sense of the
term as I discussed above. Instead Peale's "positive" power is a blending of some aspects of both
of these biblical (and Christian world view) notions while at the same time being strangely and
deficiently different from other aspects. To illustrate this, let us go to Peale himself.
In relating this power to God, Peale comments "Contact with God establishes within us a
flow of the same type of energy that re-creates the world and that renews springtime every year.
When in spiritual contact with God through our thought processes, the Divine energy flows
through the personality, automatically renewing the original creative act." (p. 41)
This type of thinking should sound familiar to anyone who has studied New Thought, New Age, or Occult Philosophy.
http://richardghowe.com/Peale.pdf