Chapter 1 - Introduction to the Shalom Effect
Author's Note:
To my many friends, this book's intent is to encourage men to discover their full potential . . . from a man to men. So it is purposely tuned to a male perspective. That said, "The Shalom Effect" is not gender-exclusive. These principles and promises apply to women and men alike, and all are welcome to draw on this work. I hope you will experience it as you would an interactive classroom. Explore every word, image, recording, and link. Each piece has purpose. To my type A friends . . . this is not a contest for speed. Handle it like you would an expensive bottle of wine, savored over time. There is much God desires you to know about being a man.
Thanks,
Mark Foley
The Most Powerful Thing on Earth
I have come to believe that the most powerful thing on earth is a man properly positioned with God.
He is a man called by God, assigned to specific tasks under the authority of the Holy Spirit;
He is humbly surrendered in the presence of God;
He seeks the Lord intently concerning each next step;
He willingly confesses and repents of any sin the Spirit brings to light;
He remains obediently tuned to the Spirit’s direction as the assignment proceeds;
Thus positioned, He will interpret accurately what he hears from the Spirit;
He will respond wisely in word and action, accurately representing the culture of Jesus;
He will experience an outcome in accordance with and fulfilling God’s intent.
He will have experienced the Shalom effect.
In that moment, as long as it may last, he is the most powerful thing on earth.
That is a bold statement. Keep reading. Let's see if it proves true.
Shalom - An Unfamiliar Word
“Shalom” is one of the richest and most misunderstood words in any language. In English, it is often simply translated as “peace,” but in the biblical context, it means much more. It conveys the way things are meant to be under God’s reign . . . a major concept in God’s dealing with people and organizations of people.
Consider what it could be like to experience the elements of “Shalom" in the various roles of your life.
• Wholeness - Shalom describes something that is complete, sound, or intact. A stone without cracks is shalom. A wall without gaps is shalom. A life without fragmentation is shalom. Nothing lacking. Everything in its proper place. It is perfection.
• Harmony – Shalom is the synchronous experience of things that fit together well. It describes a pleasing, consistent, and peaceful whole in which different aspects of community and life are aligned with core values, allowing for growth without constant struggle. It is a flowing, interconnected state of being.
• Flourishing – Sholom is to thrive, grow, or develop in a vigorous, healthy, or successful way. Biblical shalom includes the ideas of holistic well-being, security, safety, health, rest, justice…all of life flourishing as God intended. And, God provides for what He intends.
Shalom is God's vision of completeness, the end-state of God’s redemptive work: creation healed, relationships restored, and humanity rightly ordered under His sovereignty. It is the "perfect (shalom) peace (shalom)" of Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” It is the "everything working together for the good" result of Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."
Shalom is Spirit-defined, Spirit-enabled, and Spirit-experienced by a man whose complete trust and every thought is fixed on God.
It is a Matter of Position
I will never forget the moment. "Foley, what are you thinking? Get your head in the game. GET-IN-POSITION!"
I had been suckered into a blind side block that allowed the ball carrier a wide-open field and a huge gain. Coach Bill Jeter was letting me know in VERY clear terms what he thought about it. That night was a very long time ago, but the lesson remains clear to this day. If I was to have a place on the field, I had to know how to play the position.
This is a book about position -- a man's position in relation to God, what it is, and how to play it. As Coach Jeter emphasized all those years ago, the game is won by men who know their position and have the training, skill, and courage to execute it effectively on God's terms.
On the night he was arrested, Jesus was talking about position as He taught His closest followers about His expectations of them.
"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:4-5)
Jesus taught that a man's true identity and effectiveness in any area of living come only from remaining in a close, ongoing relationship with Him. Just as branches depend on a vine for life, believers depend on Christ for strength, growth, and effectiveness. Apart from Him, they can accomplish nothing of lasting value.
His prescribed position is close, so close as to be as one.
Look at the image of the young boy on his father's shoulders, and respond to these questions.
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What do you think the image has to do with your position as a follower of Jesus?
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What does it have to do with what Jesus said about remaining in his presence?
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How do you describe the relationship of a follower to a leader?
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How do you describe your relationship with Jesus?
Just as a coach presses his players, saying, "You must play your position to win this game!" so Jesus presses those who wish to be his followers, saying, "You must remain in me and I in you" if you are to understand me and experience my plan for your life."
"The Shalom Effect" will help you discover the answer to three questions.
1. How do I get in the position Jesus prescribed?
2. How do I stay there?
3. What are the possibilities of life from position?
The Moment
This has to be clear before you go any further. There is a moment in which one becomes a Christian, a follower of Jesus. Nothing in this book will make sense if you have not experienced that moment.
So take a few minutes and listen to "The Moment" audio piece. It may be the most important seventeen minutes of your life. If you have already experienced that moment, great. You will be ready to move on. If not, you will find it essential to the study.
Life Beyond the Moment - Light in the Star
The work that follows and the lessons it contains hang on the moment you just learned about. They emerge from a rich context of Scripture, from trial and error in seeking God, from failures and successes in assignments, and from a few unusual learning opportunities. All those things shaped me and what I believe to be true about life.
One of those once-in-a-life learning moments came in the cockpit of an iconic WWII fighter. I emerged from that seat with four lessons about a man's life with God that I will never forget and hope never to neglect. Those four lessons are not the topic of this book, but they are the backbone of it.
Invest your next 15 minutes in a cool introduction to a man's position with God. Grab a pen and paper. Write down the four lessons as they are presented.
Here is some support information... Every thought about God must have basis in the Scripture. The basis for this book is "A Statement of Theological Position". You may want to do a personal study of core beliefs. Here is a good place to start. https://www.effectivesolutions.today/the-canopy. You will also note that I refer to God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. Know that all three names refer to the same person in three unique functions in relation to you. Each name identifies the Creator, Master, and Commander of all that is.
Ok...now you are ready to move on. Click to the next chapter...
Mark Foley, Ph.D.
effectivesolutions.today