RE: The Year Of Being Reborn

Matt and I are always humbled in responses we receive to our posts.  As I said before, putting our hearts out there on display is quite a theraputic thing for us.  We hope that in our sharing, we can expose you to Father’s heart and encourage you with experiences and life examples.  We feel that once you are FREE and you are RESTING in Father’s love, you will be better prepared to run a business and be ready for the fire that throws at you.

Many of you responded to my series of articles on “The Year Of Being Reborn“.  I had great comments via email and on Facebook.  Thank you!

But one person in particular had a really heartfelt response. He wrote to tell me about it, I responded, and then he had an amazing transformational moment Father.  I’ve asked for his permission to share it with you.  His name is Greg Mann, and I think you’ll love this exchange…

Bob,

My name is Greg Mann. I live in Newark Ohio. I’m 52 years
old. I read with great interests your blog posts on “The
Year Of Being Born”. I just felt impressed to write you
and let you know how much I appreciated you sharing your
heart.

Over the past couple of years I’ve found myself going
through some major transformations and looking back now, a
large part of it is the “burning off” of religious ideals
and ideologies that had permeated my “life view”. Also in
just the normal day to day stuff, I find Papa gently (and
sometimes not so gently) restructuring the way I look at
things such as finances, family etc.

I’ve been “self-employed” so to speak, but the truth is
I’ve given Papa the reigns of my business/life, the
responsible thing to do! I’m involved mostly in Web work,
seo, marketing etc. Over the past year, I’ve utilized much
of the Lance Walnau material and really let God begin to
speak to me concerning callings and vocations etc, and
help me to discover who I am, why I’m here, how I’m wired.
I’ve been a musician most of my life but not much beyond
the “hobby” stage, though I gig regularly and have for
decades, I’ve never really viewed it as a sustainable
revenue source to support/raise a family of 8, although
the last year some incredible things have come together
that I had nothing to do with. Complete autonomous moves
of God. I got hooked up with some major music industry
people in Nashville, got hooked up with a business dynamo
here where I live (I really question my business acumen,
and had asked God for good people around me, and was hired
by a very long-lived regional musical group without them
ever even hearing me play.

Today I again found myself in a place where it seems I’ve
been frequently for the past 2 years. hitting a financial
brick wall, bills all due and overdue, phone ringing with
folks looking for money, business not sustaining us, and
me going to God with the same old question “What am
*”I”*going to do?”

This morning I read your blog posts “the year of being
reborn” and our Papa spoke to me through those. I guess I
just needed reminded of some of those things. He’s right
in the midst of my situations, He’s got my best interests
at heart, (as opposed to comfortability, ease of life,
etc), He’s in control, and of course.. He loves and cares
for me so far beyond my human comprehension.

In the hitting of the very familiar “brick wall” , and
going to Papa completely broken, dazed and confused, after
reading your posts, this is what come away with: He’ll
part the red sea, he’ll probably insure that the
“stonings” don’t kill me, he’ll send angels into prison
and unlock my shackles, and it might be today, and it
might not, but at the perfect time good things will happen.
And in the midst of all the pressures and turmoil, I
believe I hear that still small voice saying “make music!”
It doesn’t make much sense but I suppose it didn’t make
much sense either when Jesus told an experienced second or
third generation fisherman to let down his nets on the
other side.

Thank you for your heart, for in the pouring out of it,
our Papa spoke to me!

Greg Mann

Hi Greg. Thank you for writing.

This life is a mystery. We’re so swayed by circumstances aren’t we? Even as
I sit here today, I’m up one minute and down the next. I don’t know what to
work on next. I want to get things done, but I want to just rest. It’s
maddening sometimes. Part of this roller coaster is me getting unplugged
from religion. I’ve got a solid 35 years invested if you count the teaching
I got in Sunday School and Christian School until 1987. My wife and I
resigned membership from the only church we’ve ever belonged to just last
week. We know there’s more to Father than attendance, leading, and being
busy in the Kingdom. So yeah, I’m still out there with you going, “Ok, Papa,
what’s next?”. It’s not a great place for a Type A, leader, planner,
entrepreneur to be, but I’m learning.

Your story is great, Greg. And I’m hearing variations of it more and more.
Either we’re special, or Father is shaking up everything. It makes no sense,
does it? You’re heart is music. I know that Father put it there. But you
can’t possibly see how this can provide the means to feed your family. One
time, someone prayed with me, and she received a word from Father. It was,
“What you are doing is enough”.

Another time, I was praying with a guy and Father told him to tell me,
“Don’t worry about what you will eat. That’s my job”. As the provider of my
family and my business, that was hard to hear, because I thought it was my
God-given responsibility to feed these people. Papa’s been showing me that’s
not my job. My job is to love them and nurture them, he’ll take care of the
feeding part. Wow.

The posture to take is to let him sort out the details, and when you see the
waves part, take a step of faith. It’s not what we’re taught, but I’m seeing
that what we’ve been taught ain’t necessarily right. He has an amazing way
of sorting out the mistakes and struggles in our lives into something great
if we let him.

Keep me updated, bro. I’d love to hear what happens next for you.

Bob,

Just wanted to touch base with you this morning.

For me, yesterday was a “line in the sand” day as far as some very important
dollars were concerned. Over the past several days, leading up to yesterday,
I did all of the things that “church” had taught me… I bound, I loosed, I
proclaimed, etc etc etc. Yet yesterday came and went and the money didn’t
come in. For the last few days I had sort of a low grade headache (I NEVER
get headaches) and the pain at the top of my neck and shoulder blade had
become very intrusive, I’m sure all stress related.

This morning I had to get up around 4:45am and take my son to work as his
car wasn’t running. My mind was just swimming with all kinds of thoughts, so
when I got back home, I thought it a good time to spend some time with Papa.
I had a lot to say to him, the kind of things you preface with: ” I’m not
complaining but..” I remember these words coming out of my mouth.. “You said
to be a seeker of your kingdom first, and I have been”… and then it hit me
that it goes on to say “and of His righteousness”. At that point I began to
see something. His righteousness is all about His love and passion and grace
for ME, basically all of things a father is to his child. I’m not sure that
I’m getting into writing the scope of all this but, all of this “father-son”
stuff just started to bubble up in me, and I realized it was Him holding me
in his arms comforting and caressing me.

In my efforts leading up to yesterday, I realized that I resorted to
“religion”. I hate it. It has robbed me of years with my Papa.
This is all about a Papa being crazy about his son, and his son (me) being
crazy about his Papa. We “talked” for probably an hour, and I don’t mean I
heard an audible voice (except for mine). There was a lot more to our time,
but what came out was this and I realized that this is where HE has been
trying to get me to go: There is no higher joy for a father, than to give
his child the freedoms, the disciplines and the wisdom necessary to live out
of, and pursue his inner passions and dreams, and until the Body of Christ
gets this, we limit the expression and manifestation of HIS being in our
world. “Religion” had taught me otherwise. We HAVE to be true to our
unique-ness.

Papa used a very hard time for me, to expose his “fatherhood” to me, and my
sonship to him.

Out of it, I penned the following:

You peel back the layers of our onion-skinned lives
Exposing fortified walls standing guard in the night

A treasure chest lies at the heart of this scene
With a padlock of steel, bursting it’s seams
Filled with feeling and emotions, though valid, but old
Once vital and living now hardened and cold

And under those treasures lie the dreams of our youth
Like a heart pumping blood down into its roots
Never to die, only lived or denied
A seed in the soil longing to rise

So rain rain rain

A few minutes later I left to go on my daily 5 mile walk. The headache and
the neck pain were gone. The concerns and thoughts of the finances had
melted away replaced by a confidence that can only come from a trusted
friend, and the only English words that I could get out of my mouth were
“Papa, oh Papa, thank you.”

Before I arrived home, it started to rain

Greg

Do Not Get Depressed At Your Job

Some people can get depressed at their job and they do not know what to do about it.  As a result, here is a list of techniques that a person can use to make their job more satisfying.

One of the ways to manage your depression at your job is to challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking. When encountering thoughts that make you fearful or depressed, challenge those thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense. For example, you are afraid that if you do not get that job promotion then you will be stuck at your job forever. This depresses you, however your thinking in this situation is unrealistic. The fact of the matter is that there all are kinds of jobs available and just because you don’t get this job promotion doesn’t mean that you will never get one. In addition, people change jobs all the time, and you always have that option of going elsewhere if you are unhappy at your present location.

Some people get depressed for a few minutes and do not know what to do. When this happens, a person should take a deep breath and try to find something to do to get their mind off of the problem.   A person could take a walk, listen to some music, read the newspaper or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things. Doing something will get your mind off of the problem and give you confidence to do other things.

Sometimes, we can get depressed over a task that we will have to perform in the near future. When this happens, visualize yourself doing the task in your mind. For instance, you and your team have to play in the championship volleyball game in front of a large group of people in the next few days. Before the big day comes, imagine yourself playing the game in your mind. Imagine that your playing in front of a large audience. By playing the game in your mind, you will be better prepared to perform for real when the time comes. Self-Visualization is a great way to reduce the fear and stress of a coming situation.

Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small notebook of positive statements that makes you feel good. Whenever you come across an affirmation that makes you feel good, write it down in a small notebook that you can carry around with you in your pocket.  Whenever you feel depressed, open up your small notebook and read those statements.

Take advantage of the help that is available around you. If possible, talk to a professional who can help you manage your fears and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to deal with your current problem.  By talking to a professional, a person will be helping themselves in the long run because they will become better able to deal with their problems in the future. Managing your fears and anxieties takes practice.  The more you practice, the better you will become.

BIOGRAPHY:
Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods” – an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.com/

Video from Jim Robbins – Loss Of Identity

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Jim Robbins is a former pastor, turned writer, who writes for those who are hungry for more –wanting restoration of heart and life — and aren’t satisfied with pop Christianity. It’s not about morality (as good as that is) or right behavior and sin management. It’s about something else. A restored heart. Learn more about Jim and his writings at www.robbinswritings.com

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