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I thought some of you would enjoy reading this article on envy. The author shows how thinking you're the main person God should use for His purposes actually causes Him not to use you. "Envy -- One of the Most Deadly of the 'Evil Works'!" by Rick Joyner MorningStar Ministries www.MorningStarMinistries.org What is Envy? One of the "works of the flesh" I'd like to study from Galatians 5:20 is "envying." This is similar to "jealousy," but not quite the same. Jealousy is more directed at a person, while envy is directed more at possessions, positions, or what they have. Though all of these works of the flesh are to some degree intertwined and overlapping, the apostle listed them separately for an obvious reason, and so we should look for their distinguishing characteristics as well. Like jealousy, envy is one of the most deadly of these evil works, as we are told that even Jesus was crucified because of envy (see Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10). The Pharisees and Sadducees were envious of the great crowds that followed the Lord. This, too, is where many of the divisions and infighting in the body of Christ begins. When one church in a place starts to grow or prosper, or a special grace or anointing comes upon them, church history establishes very consistently that this will likely result in persecution from other churches and other church leaders. This is a deadly trap that many church leaders have been just as prone to fall into as the leaders of Israel in the first century. Envy can be one of the most destructive of all of the works of the flesh because it usually affects church leaders, who then infect their followers, defiling many people, bringing devastating enmities and divisions in the church. These leaders will usually claim to be protecting the sheep or defending the truth, but the Lord is not fooled and we must not continue to be either. Either jealousy or envy will be found at the root of almost every division in the body of Christ. We must learn to recognize these evils when they arise in our own hearts or in those we accept as leaders. As the Lord taught in the Parable of the Sheep and Goats in Matthew 25:40, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." NASB Therefore, if we are envious or jealous of any of His people and thereby persecute them, we are actually being envious of the Lord Himself and are persecuting Him. The way we treat His people, even "the least" of them, is the way we are treating the Lord. How Envy Works One of the most tragic ways that envy has manifested itself in church history has been with the way a passing generation tends to persecute the emerging generation instead of blessing them and helping them prepare for their own purposes. Just as King Saul became envious of David, those who are insecure in their position will be threatened by any new movements or ministries that emerge and often attack them. This has been repeated in almost every spiritual generation to date. The worst curse that was ever placed on Israel was if they forsook the Lord, they would devour their own young. Is this not exactly what has happened to almost every generation in church history, when, for a period of time, the greatest threat to the life of emerging leaders would be their own spiritual parents? It is easy for a subtle form of pride to come upon those who are mightily used by the Lord, causing them to think that if the Lord desires to do anything great on the earth, He would certainly call on them first. Many great leaders have fallen to this pride that actually disqualifies them from further use by the Lord. Since they believe they are the best candidates for accomplishing any major purpose of the Lord, they cannot conceive that any such thing which comes through others could be from the Lord. Therefore, they reject it and often persecute it[/font]. There will be a time when the hearts of the fathers and sons are united. Then we will know that the end of this age is truly near, just as we are told in the last chapter of Malachi. Until then, we need to understand that those who arise with a special anointing or grace for leadership of a new emerging church or movement will most likely be attacked, and most likely by the present church leadership. As a ministry we, too, have been subject to this quite often and have learned to expect it in every new city or situation that we enter to do a work for the Lord. Not all leaders will do this, but we have learned to count on some doing it. When we first moved to Charlotte, we were welcomed by most everyone until we started drawing large numbers of people. Then some began attacking us and, as we have continued to grow, the attacks have increased. However, many, if not most of the church leaders in Charlotte, blessed us when we came and have continued to bless us, help us, and cheer us on -- even those who had some of their people begin coming to our church. This has been one of the greatest examples of true Christian nobility and true Christian leadership that I have witnessed, and is a great inspiration. I have come to trust these like few others. I believe that much of the fruit of our own ministry should go to their account. When these come to us with a word of concern or correction, we listen because we know that they have our best interests at heart. These are the ones we look to as the true elders in our city. One reason that I have studied this specific problem in the church for so long is that I do not want to fall to it myself. Understanding is light, and when you have light on your path you should keep from stumbling. Even so, to date I really have not been tested the way that others have, and do not know how I would react to it. I hope that I would do well and try to smoothly pass the baton when it is time. However, one characteristic that I think leads to stumbling is thinking that it could not happen to us because we understand it. Understanding helps, but we must always keep in mind the exhortation to "let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (I Corinthians 10:12, NKJV). Our Best Opportunity to Be Transformed in the Lord's Image I have also come to believe that many who have run well for their whole lives fall to this near the end of their lives simply because they have not been healed of the afflictions that others brought upon them -- which is simply the failure to forgive. Unforgiveness leads to bitterness, and bitterness will defile or poison many others. Because as a ministry and I personally are almost continually attacked by someone, we have to preach, teach, and practice forgiveness continually. This is hard, but it is also our best opportunity to be transformed into the Lord's image. We have one pastor in the Charlotte area that seems to be making a good living just attacking us. Once, when I was listening to his radio broadcast and he was saying many things that were not true about us (and some that were), I asked the Lord if He would stop this man. The Lord replied instantly, "Yes, but who do you want to take his place?" I got the point and have been content to let this man continue attacking us for many years now. I think it may continue through him and others until we have been conformed to the Lord's image, who laid down His own life even for the very ones that were torturing Him. Since we obviously still have quite a way to go to be like Him, I expect this to continue, maybe for as long as we are here. Combating Envy Another way we have tried to combat this tendency to be envious or jealous of others is to give positions of authority in our ministry only to those who show a genuine devotion to equipping and raising up others. One of the main things that I look for in leaders is the joy on the face of leaders when those under them do well. Our key leaders all tend to get more excited about those that they have trained being used by God in a major way than they do when they are personally used by God. These are true spiritual fathers and mothers who are deserving of "double honor." Paul the apostle observed that we have many teachers but not many fathers, and I think the same is still true (see I Corinthians 4:15). We tend to call them spiritual fathers who are older and experienced, but being a father has nothing to do with age or experience as much as it does the ability to reproduce. Just as in the natural most become fathers when they are rather young, the true equipping ministries which are listed in Ephesians 4 may also be quite young. There are many who do ministry well, but rarely train or equip others. We need to question whether such are really the equipping ministries listed in Ephesians 4, as their primary purpose is to equip others to do the work of the ministry. We will begin to take this calling to equip others seriously when we know that this will be the only way the church can attain to "the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13 NASB). Success! I try to keep as the focus of my life that the ultimate reward of success in this life is to hear the Lord say on that great day, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21 NKJV). As a pastor, I also realize that for me to hear those greatest words, I must do all I can to ensure that all the Lord has entrusted into my care hear those same words as well. I therefore must keep in mind that my hope of success is the success of those who are a part of our ministry or members of our churches. Because of this, I am compelled to measure my own job for the Lord by how well others are accomplishing their purpose. We preach this continually, and I know some get tired of hearing it, but I do not intend to quit. I know when this ceases to be a basic value that we have in ministry, we will have diverted from a basic purpose we have. If we truly see that a basic measure of our own success is the growing anointing and success of those we have trained, it is much harder to be envious of them. For this reason I believe that John the Baptist is one of the greatest examples of true godly leadership. His whole job was to point to Jesus and to prepare the way for Him, not just build his own following. He knew all along that the One coming to follow him was much greater and considered himself not even worthy to untie His shoes. Then, when the Anointed One came, he rejoiced just to hear His voice, being a true friend of the Bridegroom, and rejoiced to decrease as He increased. For this reason, John was honored by the Lord as being called the greatest man born of a woman. Such true nobility of spirit is the hallmark of those who truly are the greatest. by Rick Joyner MorningStar Ministries www.MorningStarMinistries.org ~~~~

Thanks, guys, I did run a complete system scan afterwards and nothing came up so hopefully we're safe. Take care.

Aaaaaaaaaaah. Thanks, Galen.

Cindy! Stephen Speilberg's Holocost Documentary is the best educational video that I've seen and continue to recommend it to others. Survivors tell their stories. Great video clips but none of the ones that absolutely turn your stomach. It is great.

topoftheworld, welcome, sweetie, and thanks for a fresh reason for some of us to keep posting. You just said it all!

Hey, does anyone know what this means? Am I safe if my software found this and said it is quarantined?

Well, ok, I wanted to post it here also because the author Biblically shows it for what it is and I think he does a perdy good job. So, maybe it does belong in this section. Just click on Week 16 of Creating a Clean Heart if you'd like to read it: http://morningstarministries.org/pages/wor...k_menu.html#top

Great suggestions dmiller and ex10. South Haven sounded good to me last summer when I was surfing around, Ex10, so I may think about that for a place to go in July or August. Thanks, dmiller, I'll look into those things. Have you ever been to New Harmony? It's on the IL, IN border. MY sister-in-law's family went there one weekend and really enjoyed it. It was a 1800s cult settlement, lol, where they had all things in common type thing. We should feel right at home down there. LOL! Oeon, did you write that or did you copy and paste it from a website or lift it from a brochure? If you did, IMHO, you are a really good writer and should probably look into capitalizing on your writing abilities.

Yeah, that sounds really good, ex10. Any suggestions for specific B&Bs that you like?

Gosh, what a great analogy, Galen.

The only thing my husband has the right to tell me in a marriage relationship is how he's working more on loving me as Christ loved the church. That's his part. In fact, I'd rather he just show me because words are cheap. Just play the submit card, men, if you want to get on the fast track to totally losing your wife's respect. It's the ultimate destructive blame game. She's not your daughter, she's your partner. Treat her with respect. She's the most important person in your life. Why not treat yourself with respect also by realizing you chose her as a life partner. Why would you want someone you can just push around? Strong relationships are built by the friction that exists between two people when both speak their minds and both listen to the other's views. That's what friends do. If your wife isn't your friend, boy are you in trouble. If you just want someone you can manipulate, get a dog.

Hey, I love all of the above suggestions. Thanks so much, everyone. Act II, the answer to your question is YES, we are VERY interested in bluegrass.

Yes, Glad, unfortunately, some devilish habits die hard in some people who still believe the selfserving "truths" they learned in MANIPULATION 101 in twi.

What they said, Hope. Hope it was the best yet!

Hey, I have a research paper due in two wks. and a final exam and then I HOPE to take a long weekend refresher "course" away from home, i.e. seeing the sights at some interesting get away place. We love to stay at B&Bs. We've been to Amish country, but wouldn't mind going again, to the art museum in Toledo to see a Van Gough and the gold gilt old master's art show, to Williamsburg, and to the Blue Ridge Parkway many times. These were some of my favorites. Anyone have a place that you particularly like and would recommend to a friend?

(((Cowgirl))) SHE SAID SHE WAS SORRY SO LEAVE HER ALONE, ALREADY, OK????

I understand what you meant, I think Cowgirl, about not needing to go over it anymore. Truthfully, sometimes I feel like I don't want to think about my childhood anymore because it wasn't so great. So, for now I've decided just not to think about it for a while because it got to be like playing that tape over and over again. Now, I'm trying to think of the good parts about my childhood and have started a list so I can write those down and think about that whenever I want to by reading the list. Because of this forum, I've gotten rid of a lot of my anger over being duped by twi, but not all of it, but I keep coming here now because I like the people. Hopefully, someday I'll have gotten over all of it regarding twi and my childhood. I hope so and believe so. Anyway, coming here is very therapeutic for me, as some others have stated, and also, there are some very bright and interesting and talented people who post. So, I enjoy coming back. So, I've got to go listen to some Leonard Skinner now. Take care Cowgirl. You're wonderful and you can disagree with me anytime and I'll still like you.

Thanks for clarifying that, Cowgirl, and to answer your question, I think it's called validation, for some of us anyway.

George and Steve! No, didn't try either of those, but thanks. I'll keep those pointers in mind for next time. I had to go ahead and turn it in because I was spending too much time on it. I'm really terrible with sections and headers/footers. But THANKS!

Oldies, did you just compliment the other posters? Well done, Oldies!

I have another question. I've tried all of the ways I normally draw a straight line above the first line in my footer and nothing works. Any suggestions?

Chas, Those option sound wonderful too and I will try all. (Couldn't figure out how to do the first one or either it didn't work for me on this project). Thanks, WB

Belle, THANK YOU!!!!! I fixed them and it WORKED!!! You are wonderful!!!!!!! Take care, wb

Belle, That's wat I was doing but the text that is flush right wraps to the second line because apparently it has 3 too many letters to stay on the first line. When I backspace, it just tabs over to center, then when I flush right it with the icon, it drags the flush left text with it. How do I separate the two?

Hey, Linda, if you're on, or anyone else who can help me, I have a question about footnotes if you're up for helping a rookie writer out with a few pointers. I can't seem to get them to stay in place--the flush rights and the flush lefts on the same line keep moving with each other and won't stay still. They're not really footnotes, anyway, I'm just trying to put information in the footer, 3 lines flush left and 3 lines flush right. Does anyone know how to do this (am I clear as mud?) Thanks!