CAN I EVER CHANGE?

Recently I picked up a book in our church library/bookstore called "How People Change" by Paul Tripp and Timothy Lane.

Like I often do, the book sat on my desk for weeks, while I read a few chapters of a stack of other books all the while hoping to dig into this book and this topic.  The question is a pretty big one, "How do people change?"  

I don't know anyone who doesn't want to change in some aspect of their life but so often is seems like change is almost impossible and we keeping screwing up in the same areas.  We look in many different directions for help, sometimes give up, and sometimes we just escape by trying to satisfy ourselves with pleasure in food, tv, recreation, reading, etc.

I finally picked up "How People Change" this evening since the book is about 3 weeks overdue to the church library and thought I'd skim through it to find out the key principles the authors were sharing about "how people change."  The central thrust of the book focuses on change happening through the work of Christ and our relationship to Christ.  But that is not what I want to blog about in this post.

One thing stuck out to me as I landed on page 82-83 in chapter 5 "Change Is a Community Project."  I thought this would be a good point to share, especially as I find myself in the descriptions that Tripp and Lane give below.


See if you can relate to or identify with any of these descriptions:

"Change...happens best - and primarily - within community..(pg. 73)."  "What are some common obstacles that hinder redemptive relationships from developing in our lives?  Consider the following list and ask yourself if any of them apply to you:

1. The busyness of life, keeping relationships distant and casual.
2. A total immersion in friendships that are activity- and happiness-based.
3. A conscious avoidance of close relationships as too scary or messy.
4. A formal commitment to church activities, with no real connection to people.
5. One-way, ministry-driven friendships in which you always minister to others, but never allow others to minister to you.
6. Self-centered, "meet my felt needs" relationships that keep you always receiving, but seldom giving.
7. A private, independent, "just me and God" approach to the Christian life.
8. Theology as a replacement for relationship.  Knowing God as a life of study, rather than the pursuit of God and his people.

Do any of these apply?  Think about your closest relationships: your spouse, parents, children, or small group.  What needs to change so that you can form more meaningful relationships with the people who are already in your life?"

So, what do you think?  Is there a relationship or several you need to change or pursue?  We don't change by ourselves.  I am looking forward to breakfast with a close friend Thursday morning so I can share my struggles, my victories, his counsel, rebuke, encouragement, and focus on Christ!  I couldn't do it with out him and the rest of the body of Christ!  

If you are reading this post, I hope you can keep a look out on me as well and help me to take the right steps toward loving God and walking in a way that pleases Him!