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| |  | Michael Fox CPCC,
founder of m�agine!,
is a professional
coach and trainer,
author and creative artist, whose work has been featured throughout
the world.
Michael is a
Certified Practitioner
of the
Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator.�
Do you know someone
who might benefit
from our weekly email?
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Love and
Larry, the Grim Reaper |
When I was young, I had a rather obsessive fear of death.
No kidding...you too?
My inordinate fear showed up--just one gruesome example--on those occasions when Larry, the Grim Reaper (what would you name him?) jubilantly bade family and friends to gather to mourn the passing of a beloved. Inevitably, while at the mortuary, I'd have to visit the restroom --which always seemed to be the size of a converted clothes closet. I just knew when I flushed the commode and water refilled the basin, a severed head would bob up into view.
Come on, now...don't pretend you haven't had the same thought.
So what do we do with death and our many fears around it?
The apostle Paul had some understanding of death; there is, in fact, some conjecture that Paul, like his Lord, experienced death and resurrection. (Compare Acts 14:19-20; 2 Corinthians 12:1-7.) Paul subsequently named death "an enemy" (1 Corinthians 15:25-26)-- albeit a vanquished foe whose power is diminished and whose days are numbered (Hebrews 2:14-15).
How did Jesus encourage his disciples, his apprentices, to act toward their enemies? Jesus said, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27-28). To "love our enemies" is not to feel a wellspring of placid emotions toward them--truth be told, we don't even have to "like" them--but to treat them as we would any mulish neighbor: "do good to them...bless them...pray for them."
Who's to say the enemies we're to love are limited to people? What would it look like to love death, even as we love our enemies?
Sit with this suggestion for a time before you hit "unsubscribe," add me to your "do not call" list, or remove my photo from your wallet. What's possible?
What other inevitable, inanimate foes might be tempered if we acknowledge them and love them as enemies? Depression... loneliness... illness... reruns of The Three Stooges? What else?
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Michael Fox
m�agine!
530/613.2774
407 Myrtle Drive
Farmerville, LA, USA 71241 |
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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--
as well as
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator� curriculum
published by CPP, the People Development People.
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.
For additional information, visit our website at maginethepossibilities.net.
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.
View our archives!
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