(Click here for a video of John reading this Catch.)
I once met a woman who described herself as “100% raw organic,” and what she meant by that was that what she sees when she looks at herself in the mirror isn’t very pretty. It was her way of saying she was pretty messed up. We were at a small church gathering at the time, and the comment served to endear her to everyone. We all knew immediately what she meant. I mean, really, who wants 100% organic all the time, anyway, and when you throw in “raw” well that makes it even less appealing.
When anyone gets a clear view of their sinful, selfish self, the sight is never very pretty. It can be horrific and devastating. It can be crippling. We normally protect ourselves from this. We have complicated rationalizations. We tell ourselves stories that shield us from reality and we rarely measure ourselves with honest scales. Our weights and measures are all off. But sooner or later, the truth comes out and we are forced to see ourselves as we really are. It’s in those moments that, as painful as it might be, we actually become free — free from all the expectations that we or others put on ourselves — free to be who we are, whatever that might be. Free to be 100% raw organic you.
“Free to be me” is a freedom that usually comes at the expense of failure. It comes after trying and failing to be anything but who we are. “Free to be me” is actually a wonderful discovery, because in it we find out we actually like ourselves. Messes and all, we accept ourselves because we discover, lo and behold, that this is the way God accepts us — as we are. As Bob Dylan sings, “When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose.” We are the person Christ died for, and He doesn’t want to change us into someone else; He wants to make us His and in doing so, make us wholly who we are.
This is truly the power of the new covenant. God takes us as we are and makes us into something new. We are not in charge of what that looks like. He is. We are free to be who we are and let God be in charge of who we are becoming. It’s the good news and it’s wonderfully freeing. None of us have anything to hide.
Find out what it means to be 100% raw organic you. You’ll find out you actually like it. Then find a group, if even one or two people, who will allow you to be who you are and start loving them in the same way.
John Fischer The Catch 
For ANYONE that ever feels a need to put themselves down, please consider picking up a great book: “What to say when you talk to yourself 365 Days of Positive Self Talk” by Shad Hemstetter, Ph>D. Because you’ll educate yourself to know God DOESN’T ever do that! He loves you! And it’s just your old programs in your mind playing out…. So please learn the BEST way Science knows how to get rid of those old programs in EVERYONES brain is to replace them with good, positive Self Talk.
Also, I have come to an understanding of why Pastor John feels he doesn’t feel a need to accept President Trump’s apology of his crud remark he once said to Billy Bush he may feel b/c of his old programs it’s OK not to do it b/c he’s making Social commentary, so when Jesus told us to when asked how many times must we should accept your brother’s apology he said 7 X 7,000 times Yet it doesn’t apply to Pastor John b/c he’s making “Social Commentary”
Also when he even admits to making observation’s that some would r may consider being judgmental….Yet as my Muslim friend pointed out – No it’s not! Call yourself a prophet and then it becomes: “discernment” Then you too can say: ” I am deeply concerned about Christians holding to the the truth of the gospel and I feel responsible when I see untruth being represented.” Yet completely forget about Jesus teaching pluck the log out of our own eye, before you try to remove the speck out of your brothers. Just refer to it has “discernment” and then Jesus’ teaching wont apply to you….
PS To further add to a few other Facebook friends, They would be a bit wherry to follow a Man’s writing’s that has, or seems to be so very self righteous that he volutes Jesus’ teaching about forgiveness & Not to judge (As in Matt. 7:1) So therefore please pretty please Pastor John remove me from ALL of your mailing lists, OK… I’ll easily admit I have learned a lot from your Ministry and even grow closer to our Lord b/c of it – Yet I we are done
Good bye & God’s speed to all of the John & Marti Fisher family and to everyone else…
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9
FROM A CHUCK SWINDOLL DEVOTIONAL/WISDOM FOR THE WAY
A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.
Proverbs 26:21
PROMOTE PEACE
A “peacemaker” is the servant who…first, is at peace with himself – internally, at ease…not agitated, ill-tempered, in turmoil…and therefore not abrasive. Second, he/she works hard to settle quarrels, not start them…is accepting, tolerant, finds no pleasure in being negative…
Ever been around Christians who are NOT peacemakers? Was it pleasant? Did you sense a servant’s heart? Were you built up and encouraged…was the Body of Christ strengthened and supported? You know the answers…
Few things are more godlike than PEACE. When we promote it, pursue it, model it, we are linked directly with Him.
From Improving Your Serve by Chuck Swindoll
TY 4 your input Sandie – deeply appreciate it & you. Also, love Chuck Swindoll and the one thing I LOVE about Proverbs is there are 31 making a GREAT daily read for a month!
With that said please pretty pleases consider addressing the ISSUSES of Pastor John (I guess) b/c he a prophet he doesn’t fee a need to accept an apology for ANYONE mistake and when pointing out others errors -and it’s not be CONSIDERED judgmental & a bit self righteous, yet should be considered as “discernment” Which is complete Poppycock has a few of my Facebook friends have suggested, LOL
Yet good bye & wish you & yours God’s speed I have enjoyed reading many of your comments.
I put myself down many times and sometimes I need that positive encouragement that God loves us just as we are messed up and all. I suffer from depression and Satan really likes to make that worse. I even feel suicidal at times. Those are the times to hang on to the Lord even more and remember he came for all of us down to the organic and loves us just as we are.
Tony, please surround yourself with people and things that lift you up. SATAN is a LIAR…THE CREATOR OF LIES. You are worth so much to Jesus that He knows how many hairs are on your head at any second. You are wonderfully and respectfully made by Him, created in His image. When I’m down on myself I remember theses verses, Phillipians 1:6 and John 6: 37,39. Thank you for having the courage to share your heart and hurt. You are not alone.
Sandie makes some great points!
Let me please encourage you to seriously consider getting the book: “What to say when you talk to yourself 365 Days of Positive Self Talk” by Shad Helmsteter, Ph. D. It’s based on the Science of Neuroplasticity & it works! Otherwise you tend to be dependent on others for building your good self-esteem & sorry that’s not their job it’s yours….
God’s speed