When I was grousing a few weeks ago about growing old, my sixth grade teacher, Betty Jackson suggested that I read the book. Think about that for a minute.... I am still learning from my sixth grade teacher!!! How many people in this world can say that?
I have read a number of books on positive thinking over the years. I am not a fan of the "faith movement" which tells us to "name it and claim it." They teach that you can demand things from God by faith. I do not believe that God is a celestial Santa Claus.
This book is different than that.
Allen was 39 when he wrote the book and lived only 48 years on this earth. Yet he saw the great impact that a person can have on their own life situation. Seeing the good, or not, aspiring for greatness or not.
I have always been a believer in self-fulfilling prophecies, that if you string it along long enough you can bring either good or bad to yourself. You can also rise above difficulty with determination and prolonged intent.
I have also been a believer in the Dr Phil adage, "so how is that working for you?" The results of some behavior is predictable.
While not taking away from the power and abilities of God, Allen points to the responsibilities that we have in the life and the power of our freewill to shape our lives for better or for worse.
Allen says that, "Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy...by right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the Divine Perfection, by the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character, and man is their maker and master."
What do you aspire to this day? What are you pursuing with your life's energy?
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
Send replies to jsbrink57@gmail.com
I am leading some trips in 2018. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....
Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
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