TEACHABILITY from GOD - A Golden Virtue, A Key to Salvation

DON'T FORGET! - We have Weigh Down LIVE, our free online webcast, scheduled for TOMORROW (Wednesday) evening at 7:00pm CST! The THEME is "Surviving Today's Economy." We'll have tips, testimonies, and encouragement. CLICK HERE for more info!

Now, on with the Blog...

"TEACHABILITY" - From www.dictionary.com - A couple of strong definitions to get the Blog going this morning - "Able and willing to learn"...also..."Capable of being taught, as a subject."

That's a great launching pad for some thoughts for today...and in fact, that PLAQUE you see at the top of today's Blog is a quote from michelangelo, renowned Italian renaissance artist. He was in his 80s (age-wise) when this quote was recorded.

Have you noticed, whether it's in business, sports, TV, movies, music, medicine, etc......how the "hungry pupil" often times starts in very low, humble, wanting to SOAK UP every bit of learning he or she can absorb circumstances...then rises through the ranks into positions of fame, management, recognition, etc...then because of PRIDE and a love of the PRAISE of MAN, CEASES to become "teachable." Here are some examples from a variety of perspectives...LOSING teachability versus REMAINING teachable...

• LOSING TEACHABILITY - In the most recently released "Star Wars" movie - Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith - Anakin Skywalker goes from humble protege, thankful for Obi Wan Kenobi's teaching, wanting to learn from the "Jedi Council"...to becoming GREEDY for more position and power. He even ADMITS to his wife that the way he's beginning to feel is WRONG. "Something's wrong. I'm not the Jedi I should be. I want more. But I know I shouldn't..." He LOST his humility and turned to the dark side. The SUBJECT LOST his ability to be TAUGHT in the RIGHT way.
• LOSING TEACHABILITY - You see and hear the sports stories about hungry-to-learn football players, overcoming odds and difficult upbringings...only to get to the NFL (National Football League), get the big contract, become stars, then HOLD OUT while still UNDER contract because they "want more." Greed...pride...wanting more..."I know better..."
• REMAINING TEACHABLE - King David. We bring his name up FREQUENTLY in these Blogs because he truly was a "man after GOD'S own heart." From a quick rise to fame with the slinging of a stone and the slaying of the giant Goliath, the Israelites were singing SONGS about him! He could have gotten the "big head" and followed a path of pride to his own destruction. But NO, the jealous King Saul pursued David out of JEALOUSY and David SPARED Saul out of fear of the LORD and RESPECT for Saul's position as "GOD'S anointed" King. He wouldn't DARE lay a hand on Saul...even though Saul was in the wrong by pursuing David and trying to kill him. READ the PSALMS! They are FILLED with humility and teachability. He NEVER stops crying out to GOD for MORE wisdom and love and mercy and he gives GOD this never-ending, beautiful PRAISE...to his final days on the earth. And King David did this in even INCREASING measure! TEACHABILITY to the CORE!

Gwen has always led this Ministry...from its very beginning foundations to this very day and even MORESO every day...with a humble spirit of hungering and thirsting for MORE teaching from GOD. With the unparalleled success of Weigh Down, she has SURELY sought GOD MORE and MORE...in INCREASING measure. And He continues to bless all of the teachings, testimonies, and music coming from this Ministry. The example set for us as a Staff is to love and need and want and desire GOD MORE with every passing day. We truly do "need Thee every hour" (as the old hymn goes..."I Need Thee Every Hour.")

Those are just some examples and thoughts to think about as we ALL examine our OWN hearts. "Am I MORE teachable...MORE hungry for wisdom and godly counsel...MORE humble and wanting DIRECTION as I'm getting older?" Or is it, "I'm at a pretty good place...feeling good...moved up the ladder in life...I'm set." That's a very DANGEROUS place to be. Amos 6:1 - "Woe to you who are complacent in Zion..." May we NEVER fall into this UNteachable, horrible COMPLACENCY. TEACHABILITY...examples of the BLESSINGS of EMBRACING it versus the CONSEQUENCES of SHUNNING it...that's what we'll be talking about TODAY on WDWB LIVE at 3:30pm CST. We hope you'll join us!

Awesome WETV Feature! - PLUS...the Consequences of Choice & the Chain Reaction of Decision-Making

WOW! First thing's first! We are PRAISING GOD this morning for His powerful Hand...leading this Ministry's profile in the MEDIA right now! Did you SEE the WETV program "Secret Lives of Women" last night? The title is a little misleading...but behind the title, the point of last night's episode was about "extreme diets." NOW...anyone who knows ANYTHING about Weigh Down knows that NOTHING about it is "extreme." In FACT, here's a website that addresses that notion very specifically. The CONCEPT of returning to your normal, healthy weight WITHOUT dieting or "have-to" exercise is REVOLUTIONARY though in this generation. SO - on the show, Gwen and Weigh Down were featured as one of four types of "diets" or "philosophies of eating" profiled in an hour-long program. GOD really lifted UP and showed Gwen and this Ministry in a VERY POSITIVE, PRACTICAL, BEAUTIFUL light! It was wonderful! And when you looked and examined and compared the JOY and PEACE and RESULTS of how the Shamblins and Hannahs were shown...along with the Ministry and testimony footage...and the Remnant Fellowship church and the Assembly clips shown... VERSUS other options, it was AMAZING how GOD presented this to the world!!! Indeed, we PRAISE GOD!

And now, on with the Blog...

Consequence...Choice...Chain Reaction...

• In recent political stories, former New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer resigned after being involved in a Prostitution scandal. Former Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards pulled out of the 2008 Presidential race as he admitted to a sexual affair.
• In financial news, long-time, world-renown financier Bernie Madoff was convicted and sentenced to prison for conducting a years-long Ponzi scheme, costing lots of people millions of dollars in invested money.
• In sporting news, football player Steve McNair was gunned down by a woman with whom he was having an affair and football player Donte Stallworth served jailtime and is suspended from playing in the NFL for a year after killing a man while "driving while intoxicated."

Every one of these CONSEQUENCES, played out in the public spotlight because of the fame of these individuals, began with a single DECISION...a CHOICE. Whether it was lust in the heart left unchecked, greed for more money and being dishonest for the first time, or drinking too much alcohol in one night, the consequences from what began as single decisions rapidly began unfolding until they spiraled out of control. BUT - this isn't about finger-pointing at those who live life in the "public eye." Weigh Down is the OPPOSITE of that. We've learned here that we need to look INWARD at ourselves...the "man in the mirror." CHANGE starts on the INSIDE. THINK about this...How did any of US get to be 50, 75, 100 pounds OVERWEIGHT? It started with a little bit of overeating...leading in some cases to bingeing...New clothes are needed, there's stress in the marriage, increased costs in health care, the children start picking up the same habits, depression sets in, and on and on. The CONSEQUENCES of that initial, unchecked GREED pile up in just as HARMFUL and DESTRUCTIVE ways as some of those PUBLIC situations play out. It's the same PROCESS...just not as "high profile" or maybe not as "instant"...but it LASTS for what turns out to be GENERATIONS. Once passed down, then the children grow up and pass it down to THEIR children, and on and on. We get the picture...It is a CHAIN REACTION! When GOD Almighty spoke as referenced in Deuteronomy 28, 29, and 30 about BLESSINGS and CURSES...and how they would affect future generations...this is what He was talking about! Setting in motion the RIGHT "chain reaction" is everything! And it starts, as we learn in Weigh Down over and over, with DENYING ourselves in those testing moments with food, or not lusting...FLEEING temptation, keeping the eating and drinking WITHIN GOD'S boundaries...keeping ourselves from spending and desiring possessions we can't afford...being SATISFIED with what we have until or unless GOD allows for more. The CHAIN REACTION...the concept of what GOD is teaching us by this beautiful, Spirit-led self-denial...is POWERFUL!

Jesus chose WISELY in His hours of testing...choosing GOD'S will. Paul accepted his mission to preach Christ for the rest of his LIFE after persecuting Christians and then being confronted on the road to Damascus...choosing GOD'S will. Moses accepted his charge to lead GOD'S people and confront Pharaoh...choosing GOD'S will. David ignored fear of Goliath and feared GOD, killing the giant and leading Israel to victory...choosing GOD'S will. The list of GREATS goes on and on. EACH of them made key, crucial, life-altering decisions of abandoning their OWN wants or fears...and made decisions that set off CHAIN REACTIONS of MORE great decisions and MORE obedience to GOD and MORE good fruit. They are remembered for their beautiful love for GOD and are HONORED FOREVER for it. It all STARTED though...with making those INITIAL RIGHT DECISIONS of self-denial. We can REVERSE any curses and BAD chain reactions that we've wrongly started in our lives. We're WATCHING that HAPPEN right here with our Weigh Down participants! Marriages, families, finances, health...ALL of it is TURNING AROUND by the blessing and mercy of GOD. People are making the DECISION to END their cycle of self-indulgence and start a NEW chain reaction...one of BLESSING for themselves, their families, and anyone who knows them. We'll talk about this awesome concept TODAY on WDWB LIVE...as TEDD ANGER stops by the studio for a visit about what he sees and hears on a daily basis in counsel and guidance of Weigh Down participants. He'll offer encouragement to anyone who wants to start this new CHAIN REACTION! Tune in at 3:30pm CST!