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Ernie On the Power Bar of Faith

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On a bright blue sky afternoon, we sat across from each other in a restaurant booth and ate our lunch—me, a hamburger, french fries, and sweetened iced tea—when my friend said:

Ernie: “I’ve been thinking about my faith in Christ.”

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Me: I finished chewing a big bite of my hamburger and swallowed before I mumbled, “Good for you.”

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Ernie: “Yeah, I’m thinking my faith needs deeds otherwise it’s little more than do the minimum religion.”

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Me: “Hmm.” Not totally engaged in listening I reached for my glass of tea.

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Ernie: “Actual belief is mixed with doing something beneficial, over and over again.”

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Me: “Uh huh.” I noticed Ernie hadn’t touched his BLT, coleslaw, or cream and sugared coffee.

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Ernie: “Faith in God leads to doing something meaningful. It’s Matthew 6:33 isn’t it? ‘But more than anything else put God’s work first and do what he wants …’ (CEV).”

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Me: Starting to get engaged I said, “I guess so, I’ve never thought of it that way.”

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Ernie: “Faith with follow through is necessary.” He took a sip of his coffee and wrapped both hands around his cup as he looked me in the eye.

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Me: “You’re suggesting that faith is following through with what God has already shown me is the right thing to do?” I looked away and added a couple of shakes of salt to my fries.

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Ernie: “Test yourself, do the thing you haven’t done that you know you ought to do.”

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Me: “What?”

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Ernie: “You know what your failure is, so flip it. Decide to do the right thing.”

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Me: I took another bite of my burger and chewed slowly buying time because I didn’t want to admit any of my mistakes. I asked, “And what would this accomplish?”

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Ernie: “Belief in action offers what you want most—intimacy with Jesus.” He set his cup down and picked up his fork.

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Me: “Say what?”

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Ernie: “That’s right because God replaces your idea of fun with His reality of fun. The real fun is wrapped in doing something meaningful with God. It’s His power bar.” He lifted a fork full of coleslaw to his mouth and before inserting the food said, “Chew and swallow this power bar and you’ll find the fulfillment and satisfaction you’re longing for.”

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Me: “Okay,sure, if you say so.”

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Ernie: “As an example Jesus’ new command tells us how to prosper in life.”

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Me: “What are you saying?”

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Ernie: “Obedience brings prosperity in all our relationships—with God, others, and ourselves.”

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Me: “I see.”

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Ernie: “Well then, what if today you and I practice Jesus’ new commandment: ‘Love others the way I have loved you.’ What will happen?”

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Me: “Are you going to eat your BLT?”

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Ernie: “Faith requires us to put our belief in motion. Act. Do what’s commanded.”

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Me: “Um sure. Power Bar. That was a good meal. You’re buying, right?”

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Audio:

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In your Bible in James 2 you’ll read : “Faith without works is dead.”

I think this simply means that faith without an action instrument is just like consuming empty calories—there isn’t any nutritional value.

Faith needs activity and activity suggests I do something.

I’m kidding myself if I say I’ve put my faith in Jesus and reject doing anything to demonstrate my faith in Jesus. As James writes faith and works are a nutritious power bar.

Thanks for your company on Lee’s Nite Radio.

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Getting Unstuck: 7 Action Steps for Choosing Freedom

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1) Ya gotta wanna change.

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2) Ya gotta accept personal responsibility.

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3) Ya gotta refuse temptation’s attraction.

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4) Ya gotta continually cooperate with God.

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5) Ya gotta rejoice in the smallest positive result.

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6) Ya gotta realize that temptation is persistent.

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7) Ya gotta keep repeating steps one through seven to remain unstuck.

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These seven steps are a way to defeat what’s hurting you. These seven steps are a way to choose freedom and stay unstuck.

If you’re serious about changing something serious is about to happen to get you unstuck.

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Keep in mind: Every time temptation comes it is an opportunity to draw closer to God.

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Getting Unstuck: Seventh Action Step for Choosing Freedom

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Step 7: Ya gotta keep repeating steps one through seven to stay unstuck.

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You’ve arrived at a special place; at this place you’re cautiously optimistic.

You’re optimistic because you’re seeing results, yet you’re wondering if these results will last.

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Your connection with God has improved. Certainly, you recognize you have a ways to go, but it’s okay having something to work on. You should always feel this way.

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Why?

Because it isn’t in your best interest to never feel self-satisfied. I believe Jesus told us the secret to living at our finest when he said to his disciples, “I have food that you know not of.” (John 4:32)

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Jesus had no intention of keeping this a secret from them or us.

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When the Holy Spirit arrived at Pentecost and empowered those in the upper room (Acts 2) they began to comprehend what Jesus had said and meant. Spiritual food is available when we’re weak and relying solely on God.

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Remain childlike. Become like a fuzzy yellow chick that naturally doesn’t stray too far from mother hen because it may get snatched.

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In Step 7 you’ll find that free-will choices and your love for God are the means for success, ultimate fulfillment, and independence from temptation’s deception. In Step 7 you will daily practice and repeat all seven steps.

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In Step 7 three things are happening at the same time:

  • You’re exercising your free will choices.
  • You’re willingly cooperating with God for your own well-being. And
  • You’re experiencing deliverance from what used to be your deceiving and debilitating compulsive habit.

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Is there a better place to be than this? No there isn’t. But at times temptation will tell you, “Yes there is.” Or, “Remember when…” Or ask sarcastically, “Have you had enough of this Jesus stuff?”

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As in the Garden of Eden you’re offered a choice.

  • Decide to choose life.
  • Decide to live free.
  • Decide to keep the relationship with God fresh.
  • Decide to reject religion for a relationship.

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Christ Jesus is the one who delivers fresh surprises for you as your allegiance and alliance develop a growing root system.

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To be continued

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