Adirondack with magine!
02.01.2010




Adirondack Header with magine
Michael Fox CPCC,
founder of magine!,
is a professional
coach and trainer,
author and creative artist, whose work has been featured throughout
the world.


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Two biblical strategies
of spiritual transformation:
one effective, one not so much...
Paul--his words marked by a curious tint of frustration--queried the
Christians of the ancient city of Colossae, "Why do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 'Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!'" [Colossians 2:20-21].
Paul's question is compelling, for he rebukes the Colossians for their reliance on a failed strategy of spiritual transformation that, in truth, likely describes the very paradigm which many Christians have been taught to rely upon: "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" In reality, Paul continued, "such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom...but they lack any value..." [2:23, NIV].

"Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" is an ineffective strategy of behavioral change; for it is nigh impossible to suppress or resist your desires. It is possible, however, to transform your desires--to live in mindful attention to the desires of the spirit, the inner man, rather than to the desires of the flesh, the outer man [cf. Romans 8:5-8].

To transform your desires, your passions, is to transform your life from the inside�out. Jesus taught the value of inside�out transformation: "First clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also" [Matthew 23:26].

Although it is seldom recognized, Jesus taught inside�out spiritual transformation when asked, "What commandment is the greatest?" Jesus replied, "The foremost is...'you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart [desires, passions], and with all your soul [inner man, character], and with all your mind [intellect, thoughts, feelings], and with all your strength [outer man, behavior].' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" [Mark 12:28-31].

Heart, soul, mind and strength: inside�out.


So then...how do we grow our love--heart, soul, mind, and strength--for God? As we would for any other: first, an appreciation for God's impact in life; second, honoring God with faithfulness and trust; third, effectively maintaining communication with God; fourth, a deepening knowledge and awareness of God; fifth, sharing a common purpose with God; sixth, loving those whom God loves, as God loves them; and, seventh, a sense of incompleteness when contemplating the absence of God.*

When we love God heart, soul, mind, and strength, we will discover the "timeless" meaning of eternal life [John 17:2-3]. When we love God heart, soul, mind, and strength, unwanted habits will shed as naturally as dead leaves from an autumn tree. When we love God heart, soul, mind, and strength, we will see improvement in all of our relationships. When we love God heart, soul, mind, and strength, fear will dissipate [1 John 4:18]. Imagine the possibilities!


Spiritual formation, is not simply a matter of doing what we ought to do [i.e., behavior]; spiritual formation is a matter of being who we ought to be [i.e., character]. Spiritual formation demands more than the stubborn resistance of overt, regrettable habits [i.e., behavior]; spiritual formation requires us to assess and correct our covert failures to love God and other men and women [i.e., character]...

How then would you describe the difference between one who, in all sincerity, tries to
mimic Jesus' behavior and the one who declares with Paul: "...it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me..." [Galatians 2:20].

How would you contrast repressing your desires [the Colossians'
"Handle not, taste not, what not" paradigm of spiritual transformation;
Colossians 2:21-23]
and transforming your passions from the
inside�out
[Jesus' "heart, soul, mind, and strength" paradigm of spiritual transformation; Mark 12:28-31].

What is your heart's desire
[Psalm 37:4]?

Read Romans 8:12-17. Would you describe Jesus' "heart, soul, mind, and strength" paradigm as fear-based or love-based? How about the Colossians' paradigm? Consider, is the Colossians' "handle not, taste not, what not" model capable of fully developing faithfulness and trust?

* Want to go deeper with the seven dimensions
* of developing a loving relationship with God?
* Receive a free assessment tool simply by
* emailing a request to our office.

Michael Fox
m�agine!

530/613.2774
P.O. Box 9144
Auburn, CA, USA 95604
In addition to personal and professional coaching,
m�agine! specializes in spiritual transformation coaching,
employing its proprietary models: Values, Vision, Voice and Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength
.
Michael's books include Complete in Christ,
Complete in Christ Spiritual Transformation Workbook, and Biblio�files.

Coaching fees are based upon a sliding scale. Contact us for details.

Limited scholarships are available for spiritual transformation coaching.
On the flip side, if you are able, please inquire about opportunities
to fund scholarships for those who cannot afford coaching fees.

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