Star Trek gives insights into our soul

Recently I have been re(re-re-re)watching the old original cast Star Trek movies on Netflix. In the second one Spock dies and Kirk and Bones are visibly lost. I've long since thought of them as the aspects of the three parts of the soul that we can all innately identify with:

                Soul:

 Spock   = mind (logic oriented)

 Dr. NcCoy = emotion (passionate feeling oriented)

 Kirk       = will (action/decision oriented)

 

I've noticed that we sometimes 'kill off' as aspect of ourselves.  Really passive people's will is dead, really flaky people off their mind, but the most common is people that deny their emotions.  They run from them, go into denial about the way they feel, and even abuse alcohol, drugs, work, porn etc to numb the way they feel.  Jesus said he sets us free for freedom's sake.  God wants you and me to be free feeling, thinking and acting persons! 

Sin-consciousness vs. Righteousness-consciousness

This week I have been in several discussions about this freedom that Christ was talking about in John 8:31-32 "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (NLT).  Knowing the Truth is a relationship with the Person known as the Truth.  The Truth’s teachings are about us.  Who we are, our identity in Him –the whole Book is to teach us about who we are in His sight.  Now we learn to agree with Him about who He says we already are. 

 

We seem to have two options: [1] a focus on our sin and unending pursuit of repentance, [2] or that God has completed the work of our righteousness and we are already in right standing with Him –unconditionally loved, accepted, forgiven, and empowered.  One is sin-consciousness and the other choice is righteousness-consciousness. 

 

As it appears to be a universal truth (kinda like gravity) whatever we focus on shows up in our lives.  Focus on our working to overcome our sin and sin nature and the result is …more sin.  Focus on our righteousness in Christ and guess what we get more of?  I’m making a choice in 2013 to spend more time and energy being grateful for what God has done verses what I need to do better, work harder, strive more, fret more, …try harder, fail, feel bad, try harder… and so on in a vicious cycle. 

 

I had lunch with a mentor of mine this week.  He said it like this, “Righteousness-consciousness is more important but way less prevalent that sin-consciousness. Most church-things are more about being conscious of our failings than our righteousness.  Or about His Grace.” 

 

He also planted a great thought.  Sin-consciousness is guilt and is focus in the past, righteous-consciousness is about my potential and call of God for my future.  One keeps me backward thinking and the other pressing on toward whatever God has for me next! 

Prints of Artcyle Art now available!

Being an artist in the 21st Century has some unique advantages.  I just stumbled on this one.  At the time of this writing I've only uploaded my most popular art piece called Sudden Burst of Emotion.  Check out this link below and you have nearly unlimited options of ordered a print on canvas or differning qualities of paper and even a Klingon!  I mean cling-on (it sticks on the wall by itself!) 

<a href='http://fineartamerica.com/featured/sudden-burst-of-emotion-casey-corbin.html' size='20'><img src='http://fineartamerica.com/displayartwork.html?id=4250894&width=250&height=80' alt='Sell Art Online' title='Sell Art Online' style='border: none;'></a>

<a href="http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/color+craters/prints" style="font: 10pt arial; text-decoration: underline;">color craters prints</a>

Handmade paper art.  No paint was used! 

"Sudden Burst of Emotion" Very large wall art paper sculpture in metal frame. Treated to feel like stone. Lots of texture with color craters! 70 x 25 inches (about 6 x 2 feet). $395 + shipping and crate fee.

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Life as God’s art.

Romans 9:14-32 has always confused me. Numerous readings have always been understood by me that there are two types of people: [1] ones prepared (assumed to be prepared by God- but strangely doesn't say so) to be objects of his wrath and [2] those prepared (this time it does state by God) for his mercy. I've always assumed that this is one of those paradox times when it seems the opposite of what it should. What I know experientially about God's character doesn't seem to line up with my previous take on these verses. Then I read them with a different perspective, maybe (just maybe) I got a little closer to the truth this time.

Maybe these are the same people. They prepared themselves or maybe this fallen state of this world (by human choice) prepared them to be objects of wrath. Then God in his great sacrificial mercy re-prepared them to now become objects of His mercy. Instead of predestined separate groups –which God could do if He wanted, they are the same. Even more so, the ones that we might think in our finite minds are the 'blessed' and those that we might think to be the 'cursed' are reversed now due to Gods plan to reach the most to spend eternity with Him. Later in chapter 9 it appears to lay this out with the Jews (initially appearing as the 'blessed') verse the Gentiles that now appear to be 'blessed'! (vs 24)

Admittedly it's all spelled out that God hardens some and who are we to question "why ?" in the immensity of His greatness. And we can't blame or judge God. But verse 18 says, "Therefore he has mercy of who He wills and whom He wills He hardens." It appears he has options, but balanced with 1 Timothy and 2 Peter He has opted for option number 1: MERCY!

• "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth"
  (1 Tim. 2:3-4).
  
• "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9).
  

Recently a client told me about his terrible and traumatic childhood, and then asked why God would pick him to be born in this body and have this life. He recently had become saved and I suddenly got the insight from the Holy Spirit that although he now has a relationship with Jesus he does not talk to God the Father. He confirmed that he has never prayed to the Father and more so he sees Him as a sadistic god that maybe, just maybe, that mean god has decided to become nice toward him. In fact the client was banking on that god now owes him something for all that torture. I gently corrected his really bad theology with what I was feeling was God's heart toward this precious child whom He loves. That actually when that little boy was going through such horrible emotional pain that the real One True emotional God was also feeling his pain and saddened by the choices of others that put him in such harm's way. That ultimately God's preferences were that he had been raised by two selfless parents that raised him in a godly household and that they would protect him and love him. Instead they made choices that that God calls "sin" because they hurt those He loves.

How can it be any other way? I'm not trying to reframe God's work into something that I am more comfortable with. I am trying to reconcile what I know of God to what appears -at first glance- to be contradictory in his Word. Maybe "redemption" is kinda like starting with some old, worn-out, can't possibly be used for anything productive and recycling it into something beautiful! From junk to art! God is the Master Recycler!

Cross Red Black Handmade Paper Sculpture