Council Community Church
Pastor's Corner
THAT’S BULL! 4-21-06
Bullish: a. Causing, expecting, or characterized by rising stock market prices.
b. Optimistic or confident.
Bearish: a. Causing, expecting, or characterized by falling stock-market prices.
b. Pessimistic.
How often have you heard it: Attitude is everything. Boy howdy! Throughout history it has been known that our passions and actions will grow in accordance with the expectations which we feed our minds. “They can because they think they can.” (Virgil, 1st century BC poet). The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (2nd century AD) said this, "A man's life is what his thoughts make of it." And Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "A man is what he thinks about all day long."
The apostle Paul knew the significance of this kind of bullish attitude, not in business but in relationships, as he CHOSE to dwell on the glorious destiny of Believers: “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:4-6)
Paul EXPECTED the beautiful and the positive. God had shown him that our expectations of things and people create a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy, and our relationships with our loved ones and our God are no exception. Paul understood the need to be bullish in his relationships!
You see, if you are bearish in your thinking toward your husband or wife, you could modify the definition above to read like this: “My attitude causes, expects, or is characterized by falling hopes for my partner and our marriage; I am pessimistic about our future together.” Given this scenario – which some of you are in the middle of right now – you will never be able to see or acknowledge even the most lovely sign of growth or care in your relationship, because you are pre-programming yourself to see only the bad. That is truly being a bear.
On the other hand, if you are bullish (NOT bullheaded!) regarding your spouse, you could render the definition thusly: “My attitude causes, expects, or is characterized by high – and rising – hopes for my partner and our marriage; I am optimistic and confident about our future together.” This is a safe environment in which your love can flourish and grow because the attempts at goodness and selfless service can be seen and acknowledged since you are in the mode of looking for them.
Are we blind to the shortcomings of our wives/husbands? Not at all. Being bullish is not being in denial. If something needs to be confronted and dealt with, fine and well. However, these difficulties should not become the focal point or dominant theme of the relationship. They are simply expected hurdles along our marriage’s path to greater love and intimacy.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)
So let’s think about/dwell on the hope and light in our marriages, rather than the darkness and cynicism. Let’s appreciate what God has provided for us: “…may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer – may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.” (Proverbs 5:18-19)
When it comes to your marriage, don’t be an old bear; be bullish. This is one investment that can ALWAYS increase in value!
