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Die wetenskap van geluk

Die wetenskap van geluk

Die Bybel sê:

Die wette van die HERE is reg, en diegene wat dit gehoorsaam, is gelukkig (Psalm 19:8 GNT).

Gelukkig is diegene wie se lewens onberispelik is, wat volgens die wet van die HERE leef (Psalm 119:1 GNT).

God se wette is die protokolle waarop ons Skepper lewe en gesondheid gebou het om te werk, insluitende die wette van fisika, die wette van gesondheid en die sedewette. Die Bybel sê vir ons dat geluk slegs moontlik is as ons leef in ooreenstemming met hoe ons Skepper ons gebou het om te funksioneer, as ons leef in ooreenstemming met die wette van gesondheid.

Geluk is die neweproduk van gesondheid op alle terreine – fisies, geestelik, emosioneel, verhoudingsgebonde en geestelik. Wanneer ons fisies siek is, is ons nie gelukkig nie; verstandelike- of emosionele siekte – nie gelukkig nie; verhoudingskonflik – nie gelukkig nie; geestelike siekte (skuldgevoelens, skaamte, veroordeling) – nie gelukkig nie.

Viktor Frankl – Oostenrykse neuroloog, psigiater en Holocaust-oorlewende – het geskryf:

Moenie na sukses mik nie – hoe meer jy daarna mik en dit ‘n teiken maak, hoe meer gaan jy dit mis. Want sukses, soos geluk, kan nie nagestreef word nie; dit moet volg, en dit doen dit slegs as die onbedoelde newe-effek van ‘n mens se persoonlike toewyding aan ‘n saak groter as jouself of as die neweproduk van ‘n mens se oorgawe aan ‘n ander persoon behalwe jouself. Geluk moet gebeur, en dieselfde geld vir sukses: jy moet dit laat gebeur deur nie daaroor om te gee nie. Ek wil hê jy moet luister na wat jou gewete jou beveel om te doen en voortgaan om dit na die beste van jou wete uit te voer. Dan sal jy lewe om te sien dat sukses jou op die lange duur sal volg juis omdat jy vergeet het om daaraan te dink (Man’s Search for Meaning, bll. 16, 17, my beklemtoning).

Baie mense is ongelukkig omdat hulle fisies, sielkundig, verhoudingsgewys of geestelik ongesond is, en ongelukkig sal hulle plesiersoek vervang vir geluk in ‘n poging om beter te “voel”, maar byna al sulke plesiersoeke oortree die wette van gesondheid op een of ander manier (trooseet, alkohol, dwelms, inkopies, dobbel, pornografie, troos in vlugtige verhoudings, ens.)

Weereens, geluk is die byproduk van gesondheid op alle gebiede, en gesondheid word slegs ervaar wanneer ons in harmonie is met God se ontwerpwette vir die lewe – die protokolle waarop die Skepper God die werklikheid gebou het om te werk. Wanneer ons die wette van gesondheid oortree, sal die gevolglike siekte, siektetoestand en lyding wat voorkom ons geluk ondermyn. Dit is waarom die Bybel herhaaldelik vir ons sê, “Gelukkig is dié wat God se wet onderhou!” (Spreuke 29:18 GNT).

Hoewel ons nie kan kies om “gelukkig te wees” of direk geluk te verkry nie, kan ons kies om gesond te wees en te kies om in ooreenstemming met alle aspekte van God se ontwerpwette vir lewe te leef. Ons kan kies om ons harte aan Jesus oor te gee en wedergebore te word met nuwe motiewe van liefde – liefde vir God, vir die waarheid en vir ander. Ons kan kies om ‘n lewe van waarheid na te streef wat geleef word met motiewe om te seën en lief te hê – want die waarheid is altyd die gesonde keuse. Soos ons gesondheid kies, is die byproduk steeds toenemende geluk. En die wetenskap dokumenteer die positiewe uitkomste en verband tussen God se ontwerpwette en ons gesondheid en geluk.

  • In ‘n studie van ses weke het navorsers deelnemers lukraak in ‘n kontrolegroep en twee aktiewe groepe verdeel. Een aktiewe groep moes ‘jou seëninge een keer per week op Sondae tel’, terwyl die ander aktiewe groep drie keer per week ‘jou seëninge moes tel’ – op Sondae, Dinsdae en Donderdae. Dit is gedoen deur lyste te maak van dinge waarvoor hulle dankbaar was. Die navorsers het bevind dat:
    • Diegene wat hul seëninge een keer per week getel het, het verbetering in dankbaarheid en geluk gehad, terwyl beide die kontroles en diegene wat hul seëninge drie keer per week getel het, vermindering in beide dankbaarheid en geluk gehad het.
    • Een keer per week se tel van seëninge het ‘n werklike dankbaarheid en waardering veroorsaak, terwyl dit drie keer per week ‘n desensitisering veroorsaak het waarin die lys opstel sleurwerk, ‘n taak, roetine en miskien selfs ‘n las geword het, en sodoende geluk verminder het (Lyubomirsky, S et al, “Pursuit happiness, the architecture of sustainable change.” Hersiening van Algemene Sielkunde. 2005; 9(2)111–131).
  • In ‘n studie van vier weke het navorsers deelnemers in ‘n kontrolegroep en twee aktiewe bemiddelingsgroepe geskei. Een aktiewe groep moes dade van goedhartigheid vir ander doen, terwyl die ander aktiewe groep dade van goedhartigheid vir hulself moes doen. Aan die einde van die studie, en ook op ‘n latere opvolgpunt, het navorsers bevind:
    • Diegene wat dade van vriendelikheid vir ander gedoen het, was gelukkiger as die kontrolegroep, maar diegene wat dade van vriendelikheid vir hulself gedoen het, was nie anders as die kontrolegroep nie (Nelson, SK et al., Emosies. 2016; 16(6):850–861).
    • Dade van vriendelikheid teenoor ander aktiveer breinbane wat die liggaam se streskaskade kalmeer en lei tot beter fisiese en geestelike gesondheid. Dade van vriendelikheid teenoor self het nie dieselfde voordeel nie.
  • In ‘n ander studie van vier weke wou navorsers sien of dade van vriendelikheid meer doen as om net ‘n emosionele toestand van geluk te bring. Is daar fisiese voordele aan dade van goedhartigheid? Die navorsers het deelnemers in vier groepe verdeel – ‘n kontrole groep, diegene wat dade van vriendelikheid vir ander moes doen, diegene wat dade van vriendelikheid vir die wêreld moes doen (soos om vullis langs die pad op te tel), en diegene wat dade van vriendelikheid vir hulself gedoen het. Hulle het toe geen (gene) reaksie in witbloedselle ondersoek om te meet of daar verskille in immuniteit was. Die navorsers het bevind dat:
    • In vergelyking met die kontrole groep het diegene wat dade van vriendelikheid vir ander verrig het, minder inflammasie ervaar en die vermoë om virusse te beveg het verbeter. Met ander woorde, geenuitdrukking het epigeneties verander om gesondheid te verbeter as gevolg van hierdie dade.
    • Maar diegene wat dade van vriendelikheid teenoor die wêreld of vir hulself gedoen het, het nie van die kontrole groep verskil nie (Nelson-Coffey, SK, et al., Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2017; 81:8-13).
  • Navorsers het ook bevind dat dade van vriendelikheid of geluk ingrypings (happiness interventions) in sommige situasies ‘n terugslag reaksie kan hê en ‘n persoon minder gelukkig kan maak. Soos:
    • Wanneer die motivering om dit te doen selfgefokus is, soos om dade van vriendelikheid te doen sodat ander meer van jou sal hou of jy bevordering of lof sal kry, ens. dus geen verbetering in geluk nie. Om die voordeel te verkry, moet die aksie voortspruit uit ‘n hartsmotief wat van plan is om ‘n ander te bevoordeel, dit wil sê uit liefde; dit is nie die daad self nie!
    • Wanneer hierdie dade ‘n las word, roetine, werk, eerder as werklike liefde.
    • Wanneer hulle ‘n mens se hart, oortuigings of huidige ingesteldheid weerspreek:
      • Soos ‘n persoon wat in kliniese depressie is en ‘n dankbaarheidslys maak; Dit kan eintlik veroorsaak dat die persoon skuldig voel of soos ‘n las vir ander voel terwyl hulle dink aan hoeveel ander vir hulle gedoen het.
      • Kulturele teenstrydighede – in sommige Oosterse kulture word die daad om ‘n mens se ouers te bedank vir ‘n goeie werk in die grootmaak van hul kinders as ‘n belediging beskou, dit wil sê asof hulle nie hul plig teenoor hul gesin sou nagekom het nie.
      • Aksies wat in stryd is met ‘n persoon se basiese persoonlikheid, soos ‘n introverte persoon wat opdrag gegee word om voor ‘n groep dankie te sê.

Geluk is slegs moontlik in harmonie met God se ontwerpwette vir die lewe, en navorsing het tot dusver getoon dat die grootste aksie wat ‘n mens kan neem wat konsekwent groter geluk meebring, is om onselfsugtig te leef, ander lief te hê en goedhartige dade teenoor ander te doen.

 

 

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Testimony 25

I just want to say thank you so much for your conversations via YouTube. I regularly tune in to your lectures, “Let’s Talk” sessions, and many others. Through these I’ve found greater depth and meaning to God’s word. Thanks for all that you do and please continue. I’m currently working in the middle of Silicon Valley at Stanford University. I feel like God really has me in the right place right now and I’m sensing that your teachings might be part of it.

B. F., Silicon Valley, CA, USA

 

Testimony 20

I just wanted to personally thank you for your teachings and insight into scripture. I came across your website via my cousin who suggested I look into “Healing the Mind” information. My youngest daughter has been struggling over the last couple of years and it all came to a head this spring. When I started listening to the “Healing the Mind” lectures my own life began to be transformed. I began sharing with all my daughters the concepts you laid out so clearly. I ordered your book and soaked it up. I just want to say “Thank You!” My walk with the Lord has been refreshed and renewed. Your obedience to the Lord is a blessing to so many.

R. K., Anderson, SC, USA

 

Testimony 28

I have been following your Bible study class for about a year now. I must say I am impressed with how your ministry has grown. I took it upon myself to listen to all your lesson podcasts from the past and they have both enriched me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I have learnt a lot from this class. I have also noticed how the class has grown in spiritual strength. One of the things that benefited me is that now I am not afraid of God. I use to be, but now it has melted away. The second thing is that you helped me to have a real life relationship with God. Now He is my friend that was always there and I love having him with me all the time. Thirdly, because of this class, it inspired me to take over and lead a class. I have called it “Let Us Reason Together,” adapting your inquisitive style and creating a class of free thinkers.

T. Banda, Malawi, Africa

 

Testimony 15

I have been sharing Come And Reason Ministries Bible study lessons with several folk. You have such a beautiful view of the plan of salvation. If we had this message preached when I was young, my generation would still all be in church.

H. R., New Zealand

Testimony 38

Since November 2015, when I started studying Gods word from this God Is Love point of view, my life has been transformed. My troubled marriage of 15 years has been healed and my husband and I are truly happy for the first time in 15 years. Now When I read the word of God I understand it so much better and I can’t help but see Gods love radiating through the pages to humanity. Gods word is living and active and I am blessed beyond measure to be having this amazing experience. God has given me a beautiful understanding of Jn 3:16 that amazes me more and more each day. Thank you again for your ministry.

Helen D., London, England

 

Testimony 71

When I was 9 years old, I remember setting at our devotional table with a hunger and thirst for God that wanted more, deeper, BETTER. I can remember literally crying and pounding on the table, “I know these teachers didn’t mean to give us error. They taught what THEY had been TAUGHT, but didn’t ANYBODY READ THE BOOK?!?!?” It mattered to me then. It mattered to me as a teenager. It matters now as I teach bible classes. It didn’t have to be so hard as I watched so many give up and lay God’s great plan and gift of salvation aside as being “impossible.” Then, a friend sent me a link to Come And Reason’s website. I grew excited. YES! FINALLY! Then another friend told me to stay away, saying her son had just broken up with a girl because she was involved with Come And Reason and that “Tim Jennings preaches a false gospel.” But, AFTER many years of developing an authentic and, dare I say FUN relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit I see this message has been around a LONG time, since the apostle Paul, Ellen White, Graham Maxwell, Ray Foucher, and yourself (though I admit, you’ve made me back up, rewind and replay the clips, and get out my well-worn Bible on a few things.) I’m so thankful I have found LIGHT during these DARK days. I am not alone.

Vicki DiNitto

Testimony 33

I was invited over a friend’s house to see the “God and Your Brain” seminar today. I became [a christian] 36 years ago at the age of 19, but have struggled with the concept of God taking His ‘pound of flesh’ out on His Son to be appeased. Wow. Your seminar has been an incredible revelation and breath of reason and fresh air! I have your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” and it is SO eye opening. Finally, after 36 years enlightenment has come! Praise the Good Lord! What can I say, but that the Real Gospel is truly “Good News!” Thank you for your efforts in giving the Gospel a clear sound!

Paul C.,  Springfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 30

God lead me to your book “The God-Shaped Brain” while I was searching for another book about the brain and then to your interview about your book on HeartWise Ministries [where] I found out about [Come And Reason Ministries]. I’m now devouring the webcasts of your Bible studies. I have been so greatly blessed and I thank God so much for your courage to speak the Truth in love no matter what. Listening to you contrast the two opposing systems (laws) and digging deep to unearth the hidden treasures in the Bible makes me so incredibly happy and I feel very blessed to be part of your Bible Study Group although I live far away. I am just so excited that there is a group of people that is spreading the Truth about the character of God and it saddens me how few realize what our Father in Heaven is really like.

Kessy B., Australia

 

Testimony 12

I have been really blessed reading your response to the various questions on your site.

K.C., OH, USA

 

Testimony 23

I would just like to add my voice to the many people who, I believe, must have contacted you to express their appreciation for the “Healing the Mind” DVDs. I’ve been listening to your Bible study class discussions for many years and I’ve been personally blessed by your research and teaching about the character of God.

L. G., Oakland, MI, USA

 

Testimony 49

I came into the church at 21, but that is as far as it went. I was so confused about what love is. I couldn’t find it in the bible, because I am not a person that can read between the lines. I have no logic. I have read many, many books; trying to figure out the crux of the matter. They were helpful, but something was still missing. I have become very frustrated to the point of crying out to God, “Where can I go?”  I needed some basics.

I found two books, written by Timothy Jennings, MD, to be very helpful. God showed me that I had lived my whole life in fear. I didn’t even see it. Now, I do. God is so good.  I discovered the “The Remedy”  Dr. Jennings new book, “The God-Shaped Heart!” Oh, I was so excited, I purchased them right away.

I can get rid of most of my books, because “The Remedy” brings the Love of God out so clearly, even I can’t miss it. Now, I want to sit and read my Bible. Wow, what a revelation! It is just simply Awesome! I am so grateful to Jehovah Almighty for hearing my prayer for more understanding! I am so encouraged!

Jackie S.

 

Testimony 50

After coming into contact with Come And Reason Ministries, I can finally say that many of my unanswered questions have fallen into place. I discovered that my view of God’s Law was “imposed laws and rules” with “imposed punishments” and that this was the major culprit of my many unanswered questions. Thanks be to God for using you and those around you to help us who have struggled with this “infection” of thought. I have now rejected the “imposed law” concept to fully embrace “Design Law”… to look thru “Design Law,” instead of “imposed law,” is a relief.

Viliami L., Australia

 

Testimony 42

I am just writing to say that I have been so blessed by the teachings of Come And Reason Minitries recently. I watched last week’s bible study lesson on Youtube and am thankful that the error in the printed lesson guide you use was pointed out and this week’s study was of equal benefit, if not more so. My understanding of God’s nature has been very confused of late and I am so grateful for clarity in this matter. I have never really fully understood previously how a good God can cause bad things to happen and now I realise that He doesn’t, it’s a natural consequence of sin. May the almighty Father and His Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, continue to bless your ministry.

Laura P., United Kingdom

 

Testimony 52

Your unique way in spreading the truth is what we all need today. Most of us don’t recognize the contamination coming from all the lies and selfishness in the world. Because of our fear of death, we forgot how to live. Lies left and right. I was losing hope and faith, because of so many ideas that are always contradicting each other – so many questions answered by other, more complicated, questions – until I found your channel on YouTube.

You did not just give me answers, you also taught me how to answer new questions that arise in my mind. Now I see things differently. I see God’s mercy, grace, and Love everywhere, in spite of all the chaos that we all have done as humans. I don’t fear death anymore. Accepting the Truth and Love about God is truly a genuine Freedom from all the confusions, sufferings, selfishness, pain, and death.

I just wanted to say, thank you, sooooo much for revealing the real Remedy for our infected life. I have a new hope and now see the world in a different perspective!

Wheinny P., University Place, WA, USA

 

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA