<![CDATA[Living Truth Network - Roderick\'s Blog]]>Sat, 20 Sep 2025 09:17:00 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Yin & Yang of Habits]]>Wed, 08 Feb 2017 15:47:36 GMThttp://www.livingtruthnetwork.com/rodericks-blog/yin-yang-of-habits
​It's true, our habits serve to create predictable routines from which we, and those counting on us, feel safe. Habits give us a sense of sameness and solidarity (i.e. holding hands around the camp fire at summer camp, singing ’Kumbaya‘). 

It's also true that our habits direct our attention away from a serious examination of the evidence. What is also predictable is a kind of captivity awaiting those who act out of ignorance or anything short of wisdom.
“Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge; their honored men go hungry, and their multitude is parched with thirst (Is 5:13).”
]]><![CDATA[Faith & Confidence]]>Sat, 28 Jan 2017 08:00:00 GMThttp://www.livingtruthnetwork.com/rodericks-blog/faith-confidenceBy Roderick Logan, DPTh, CFTP
"It is only after we become overly exuberant about our material successes that seeds of religious doubt are planted. When we put too much stock in material achievement and take excessive delight in material indulgence we dull the voice of our soul and its calling of faith (Rabbi Lazer Gurkow)."

http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/825476/jewish/When-Faith-Breeds-Confidence.htm

]]><![CDATA[One Word, Two Actions]]>Thu, 26 Jan 2017 08:00:00 GMThttp://www.livingtruthnetwork.com/rodericks-blog/one-word-two-actionsBy Roderick Logan, DPTh, CFTP
The underlying concept of unity stems from two powerful ideas, mutual love and mutual respect. Remember, unity is not sameness. Rather, it is the couple, the family, the congregation, the team, or the people working together to move in the same direction. And, when love and respect are shared; when they are mutual attributes of the relationship, then unity is realized.

What about love and respect?
What about love and respect? Is it not just two words saying the same thing? No. In fact, in the ancient world, there was one word that encompassed both of these ideas. Although, these words share some similar qualities, love and respect are quite different. How so?

In the Western world, love tends to emanate from an emotional place. Love is an expression of how one person feels about another person, or perhaps a place or a thing. In contrast, respect is the deference, the honor, or the acknowledgment that one person shows to another. Love tends to give attention to the feelings of the one showing love. Respect, on the other hand, tends to give attention to the feelings of the other person. Again, in the Western world, these are treated as two differing, separate, or compartmentalized concepts.

In the Hebraic world, there is a single verb that has two actions. That word is ahavah. It usually is translated love, but it comes with the cultural presupposition that love cannot exist without respect. The concept behind ahavah is, benefit to another at a cost to myself.

In the Western world, it is conceivable to love another, but not respect them. You might imagine that in this situation love would be possessive, narcissistic, and self-agrandizing. Expressions of love like this treats the other person as an object. The other’s humanity and personal dignity is diminished or completely dismissed. This kind of love often leads to abuse, and always regards others as merely a means to an end.

Likewise, if you imagine respecting someone without loving them, this too leads to an imbalance in the relationship. Respect without love is the consequence of fear; in particular feelings of intimidation. If one believes he or she is being manipulated by someone more powerful, more influential, or more believable than they, it is likely eventually he or she will runaway or rebel. Loyalty and long-term relationships cannot be sustained by respect alone.

Looking again at the Hebrew verb, ahavah, protection is built into the culture of the word. Ahavah does not exist without both actions - love and respect. Not only are both required and expected, but neither one exists - or allowed to exist - without the other accompanying. In other words, in the biblical Jewish world, the presence of love is always in the context of respect, and the presence of respect in the context of love. Love is the act of giving what is beneficial to the other person. So, the act of love requires not only an awareness of the need of the other person, but also a self-awareness of the would-be giver’s talent and resources. A person cannot give what they do not have. To expect otherwise will lead to trauma. Love and respect working in tandem provides that there is an awareness of the other and a healthy self-awareness. In truth, the later enables the former.

Ahavah, is essentially sacrificial. There is always a cost in providing benefits to others; in meeting the needs of another person. True love provides the payment of this cost. It is absorbed by the giver. However, sacrifice is fundamentally a volunteer action. If sacrifice is compulsory or mandated, then it is no longer sacrifice. It is now servitude or slavery. The presence of both love and respect ensures that both the gift and the cost of the gift are provided freely and without reservation.

The mental images that some have grown up with which picture God as being unhappy, with a giant hammer, and ready to pounce on unsuspecting minions when they do not sway his anger does not originate from the Bible. In English, it reads:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight (Pr 9:10).
The word translated “fear” does carry the same meaning as the English word for “fear.” It comes closer to the word “respect.” In other words, the biblical principle conveyed Proverbs is that wisdom is to be found when one person respects another; not just love them, but respects them.

Should we love God? Absolutely, but love of God alone is not sufficient. Just having a warm, positive, affirming emotion toward the Creator is not enough to sustain our relationship with him. If we feel our sacrifice(s) to God is compulsory or forced, then is it any wonder we often want to pick up a gun and fight or drop everything and flee? We must also respect God. We must show deference, honor, and acknowledge his ways, his instructions, and his points-of-view - as revealed through the Bible. Love without respect is not a relationship. It is imprisonment.
​
Likewise, our unity in marriage, in family, at work, in our city and our nation is reachable when we share and experience mutual love and mutual respect. This is an ancient biblical principle - tried and true.
]]><![CDATA[What came first?]]>Sat, 07 Jan 2017 08:00:00 GMThttp://www.livingtruthnetwork.com/rodericks-blog/what-came-firstBy Roderick Logan, DPTh, CFTP
What is THE first of the Creator’s creations?

Hint: It isn't listed in Genesis chapter 1.
”The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began (Pro 8:22-23).“
And the answer is...
Answer: Wisdom

The Creator’s approach to the formation of the universe began by appointing wisdom as overseer and guide to all of life; universally and locally; individually and collectively. When employed by men and women, wisdom empowers he and she to develop the highest self.

In the world, wisdom is defined as scholarly knowledge, knowing what is true or right. It is accumulated facts and information.

The Bible, however, defines it quite differently. Wisdom is a synonym for knowledge of God and the way in which he acts.

”Thus said the LORD:
Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom;
Let not the strong man glory in his strength;
Let not the rich man glory in his riches.
But only in this should one glory:
In his earnest devotion to Me.
For I the LORD act with kindness, justice, and equity in the world;
For in these I delight
—declares the LORD (Jer 9:22-23[24]).“
]]><![CDATA[What comes before hearing and acting?]]>Sat, 31 Dec 2016 08:00:00 GMThttp://www.livingtruthnetwork.com/rodericks-blog/what-comes-before-hearing-and-actingBy Roderick Logan, DPTh, CFTP
What does it mean to hear the LORD’s instructions and act accordingly? On this topic, many of us grapple with obedience and so we often ask the question, “What should I do?” This is particularly timely as we enter into the new year (2017) and are making New Year’s resolutions - goals of what we believe we should or we desire to achieve. 

In truth, this question cannot be answered until a higher question is answered...
“Who am I?” and “Who should I be?” This is the guide that always determine “what I do” or “what I should do.” 
​
Likewise, indecision reflects someone who is in doubt about their identity. Decisions are harder to make when one is in flux about who they are.

Paul addresses this issue in Ephesians 2. In verse 19 he writes:
“So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers. On the contrary, you are fellow-citizens with God's people and members of God's family.”
​Knowing who I am not only empowers my decisions of what to do and how to act, but it liberates me from image management and people pleasing. 
​
Do you know yet who you are? And, who you are not?
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