L.I.F.E.Workbook: Principle One - Assignment Two

“Understanding Our Cycle”

In this assignment you will keep looking at that silent self that has kept you in bondage. The purpose of this assignment is to continue to bring into the light that which has been cloaked in darkness. It is also to show you some things that you will need to work on in a very specific and practical way.

FANTASY - those thoughts that you have about sex.

- “preoccupation” – you’ve been preoccupied with sexual thoughts and imaginings.

Sexual thoughts lead to RITUALS, which are those things we use to prepare to act out. Any thought or behavior you use to get from fantasy to acting out is part of your ritual.

A ritual begins with faulty thinking, which launches the process long before you act out.

What have you told yourself about why its OK to act out?

Two main categories of faulty thinking:

Justification – For example, we might think that is we do enough good things for God, we are allowed to do a few bad things. It is like we have a balance sheet in our heads – a formula we have worked out – and we reason, “God won’t mind if I do these sexual things because I did so many other good things for Him.”

We’ve read I Cor. 7 about how Paul says we should marry so that we don’t “burn.” When we find that’s not the case with us, our faulty thinking tells us that our sexual struggles are our partner’s fault or that we’ve married the wrong person. We then feel justified in committing sexual sins. We might even believe our acting out is a way we can satisfy ourselves so that we can tolerate remaining in our marriage. In our sick thinking, we see our sexual sin as having the positive benefit of preventing divorce.

We also tell ourselves that it’s OK to act out as long as “no one gets hurt.” We think that if we can just keep our sin a secret, especially from our wives, then no harm is done.

Entitlement – Sometimes we justify our sexual sins by thinking we deserve it, which is a form of “entitlement.” Many of us have said to ourselves, “Nobody loves me and no one will take care of me. I have to do it for myself.” We believe no one else understands us and the pain we feel. Down deep we’re angry about not getting our needs met, and we feel entitled to meet our needs ourselves, including using sex or unholy relationships.

Entitlement also tells us that we do so much, we work so hard, and we’re so stressed that we deserve a reward. Because life is so often difficult, we might even think it’s only fair to do these sexual things. We deserve some comfort and gratification.

Turtle Pulse Check (01/21)

FEELINGS - Today I am feeling both grateful and sad, lonely, and bored.

ISSUES - My sister was laid off from her job today and that is leading to sadness for me.

NEEDS - I need to surrender to Christ and to seek relationship with Him.


Yesterday I experienced the elation of change. I watched the inauguration of Barack Obama with great joy. There was a sense of possibility in the air that felt very refreshing.

Today I am burdened by the reality of our economic crisis. Seeing my sister lose her job hurts. I am very grateful to have a job that I enjoy and that pays well. But I am sad for all of those who haven't been as lucky.

Stressful Times

This economy is producing some very stressful times for everyone. I am so grateful that I still have my job. And I feel somewhat guilty that I still have my job. We lost several people from our department last week.

I just got a phone call from my sister. She is on her way to work and she believes she is going to be laid off today. Her husband was laid off two months ago. How can families survive these setbacks?

My family lives paycheck to paycheck. I don't know how we'd cope with a job loss. I feel so much pain for those around me.

A Sense of History

I have been very excited about the inauguration of Barack Obama and filled with anticipation for the past week or so. I decided that I would find a place to watch his swearing in and his inaugural speech. So I went down to the cafeteria and was amazed at the large numbers of people who also responded to this moment. The cafeteria filled up quickly as our predominantly white workplace came out to support this new president.

Today I am proud of my country!!!

That Darn Cat!

This morning Destiny - the official cat of D-Monk - seems destined for trouble. She has gotten tired of being trapped indoors during the cold Minnesota winter and darted out the door this morning when D-Monk went out to start his car. Fifteen minutes later when D-Monk left the house, she thundered past him faster than the speed of sound - a black blur shooting up the driveway.

D-Monk decided she was ready to go in and went back to the front door. But she darted out from under the porch, rocketed down the driveway and into the street, came to a screeching halt, glared at a car coming down the street, and shot right back up the driveway and under the front porch.

Have you ever seen your cats go crazy at night - zipping around the house like a possessed squirrel? That's what Destiny was up to, but she was doing it outdoors while playing traffic dodge. I couldn't get her to come to the door, so she's outside until someone else comes home.

Watch out, World!
Destiny is on the loose!!

A Word for the Day - How Does One Attain God?

"What action shall I perform to attain God?" the disciple asked the elder.

"If you wish to attain God," the elder said, "there are two things you must know. The first is that all efforts to attain God are of no avail."

"And the second?" the disciple insisted.

"The second is that you must act as if you did not know the first," the elder said.