Random acts of kindness

Random acts of kindness

No. 5 Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23

In the book LIFESKILLS 101: Higher Core Values Winners Live by

Kindness comes from a lot of forgiving.

Each section in this study series uses research, statistical conclusions and graphic information to persuade you to be a Christian or influence you to have a strong faith. According to statistical averages, the Christian faith delivers better health, greater happiness and prevents many self-generated problems. You will see this in the following pages.

BIBLICAL DIMENSIONS

BIBLICAL WORD STUDY ON KINDNESS, Fruit of the Spirit, No. 5

The word KINDNESS has a number of synonyms; compassion, mercy, loving kindness, sympathy. The following survey gives some idea of the Biblical usage of the idea of KINDNESS.

The Hebrew word rachum (or rachimim) is used in the Old Testament many times This Hebrew word is translated into English by such words as “compassion” or “mercy or “loving-kindness” In II Samuel 2:6 David shows “loving kindness” to the people of Jabesh Gilead who retrieved the body of Saul after he had been killed by the Philistines.

The Hebrew word chesed is translated by the word “kindness” 44 times in the Old Testament. Chesed is also translated by “mercy” 119 times in the Old Testament.

The Greek word eleeo (and elemon) is the New Testament equivalent and is usually translated into English by the word “kind” or “compassionate” or “merciful.” For example, “Blessed (benefitted) are the merciful (elee’o) for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

The Greek word chrestos is frequently used and also translated by the word “kind” in the King James version of the Bible. During Paul’s trip to Rome he was shipwrecked. “After we had escaped we then learned that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us unusual kindness (chrestos), for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold” (Acts 28:1-2).

The Greek word sumpatheo has much the same sentiment but when it was translated into English the King James translators used the phrase, “be touched with the feeling” (Hebrews 4:15 KJ). The RSV and the New International Version use the word “sympathy.” “For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with us.”

Other Hebrew and Greek words translated by the word “kindness” are; chamal, chanan, oikteiro, splagknidzomai, philanthropia, philadelphia.

The social sciences have mostly done their research around similar concepts that have a measure of kindness in them, such as empathy, sympathy, inclusion, tolerance, acceptance, respect needs of others, appreciation. etc. The research from which the charts are created has included this broad range of both the Biblical concepts and the optimum lifeskills of the social sciences.

OVERVIEW

BEHAVIORS THAT ARE UNKIND

Gang control, peer pressure,

Racial prejudice

Crime, substance abuse,

Divorce, violence

Treating others as inferior and making fun of them

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF UNKIND BEHAVIOR

UNKIND behavior starts wars.

UNKIND deeds are destructive to one’s own health.

UNKIND persons are 7 times more likely to be on illegal drugs.

UNKIND outcomes start with unkind beliefs.

UNKIND efforts put fear and guilt in one’s own soul.

BEING GODLY IS BEING KIND.

God’s indwelling presence gives a heart of kindness.

God’s Word becomes your spiritual Global Positioning System.

God walks with his friends on trails most people walk alone.

God assures his followers that they will be benefitted more than others.

God and you make this a better world with kindness.

THE KEY THEME OF THIS MATERIAL

Claiming to be a Christian is not enough. Profession of belief in Jesus Christ is not the same as behaving like God wants us to behave. God wants elevated levels of Fruit(s) of the Spirit. Higher levels of spirituality does not always occur automatically. Believers need to learn how to translate the best beliefs into the best behaviors, in order to obtain the most optimum outcome for health, happiness and well-being.

BEFORE WE GO FURTHER, IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT LEVEL OF “KINDNESS” WE FUNCTION AT.

HIGH “KINDNESS” IS AT THE TOP, BUT MEANNESS, INDIFFERENCE, SELF-CENTEREDNESS, ARE AT THE OTHER END, THE BOTTOM.

TO FIND OUT WHERE WE STAND BETWEEN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF “KINDNESS” AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF “SELF-PREOCCUPATION”, EACH OF YOU IS BEING OFFERED A TEST TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE IN THAT SPECTRUM. HERE IS THAT TEST.

PART 1

YOU CAN USE THIS SET OF QUESTIONS TO MEASURE YOUR GENERAL KINDNESS LEVEL.

Pick out the most appropriate response.

Write the number of that response in the space provided by that statement.

0=Never, 1=Rarely, 2=Occasionally, 3=Sometimes, 4=Frequently, 5=Almost always

41. I am a sympathetic person.

42. I will stop what I am doing to help a hurting person.

43. I listen as long as necessary when someone talks.

44. I will cancel something to be with a sick person.

45. I am concerned about social problems like poverty.

46. While others punish quickly, I listen for explanations.

47. People come to me with their problems.

48. I spend a lot of time helping others solve problems.

49. I feel good when I can help someone

50. I listen easily and get others to share deep feelings.

TOTAL

(This is Segment No. 5 of Darrell Franken’s Christian Personality Profile built around the Fruit(s) of the Spirit. These questions are a synthesis of the questions found in 39 major published tests. Keep your answers to yourself.)

Take the TOTAL and go to the next page. Find your TOTAL which is on the left side of the column.

“One of the most difficult things to give away is KINDNESS,

because it is usually returned.” Author unknown

PREDICTABILITY OF THE FRUIT(S) OF THE SPIRIT

There are 4 levels of “regular” attenders scores in KINDNESS (A-B-C-D). One-fourth (A) averaged quite low at 24. That is only 50% of the world’s average in KINDNESS. Not so great for Christians. B level of KINDNESS is just average with the world universal value of KINDNESS. The C level of 64 is respectable for Christian. So is (D) level at 61. Both C and D exceed the KINDNESS of the “Never” Attend worship persons.

In the privacy of your own thoughts each person deals with their own level of KINDNESS. Some persons struggled from 30 to 40 and it may have taken them a lot more spirituality to go that distance than someone else who likewise started out with 30 but sped up the scale more rapidly and with less effort to a 68 or so.

DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS?

Where is the church failing, in its effort to get people to be more spiritual?

What is there about the culture of our community or church, which makes some of its people so unable to reach a higher level of KINDNESS?

What can the church do about it?

What would you like our church to do about it?

GOD, JESUS, HOLY SPIRIT, AND CHURCH FRIENDS

The chart shows 4 levels of “regular” worshipers (A-B-C-D) levels of KINDNESS and one level (E) of “NEVER” worshipers average level of KINDNESS. It is true that there are some persons who attend church “regularly” and are only half way up to the level of kindness in “people of the world.” (Shame!)

Jason’s parents were luke-warm, half-hearted, once-a-year church goers. They were like so many. They never quite believed that worship made a difference. No one had ever showed them any statistics like those found in this Christian LifeSkills study/discussion. Jason’s whole family muddled along with more stress and more conflict than average. There was far more shouting going on in the home than necessary. Thus, Jason’s attendance at a chapel service at college was quite unusual. In that Chapel service students gave testimonies of how they changed when they became committed to Christ. Suddenly Jason sensed that he had been missing out. That is when Jason’s desire to increase his KINDNESS through volunteering. He attended Chapel four years. He volunteered all four years, out of his desire to be kind, rather than cruel (like he felt he was treated). At graduation Jason had lost his low-self-worth and he never turned back.

Scientifically designed epidemiological studies are supporting what you believe. You can thank God that his church makes a positive contribution to your life and to those to whom you show kindness. If you do not have enough KINDNESS or you are willing to make a commitment to make this a better world, then make sure you worship regularly.

DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS OR FEELINGS?

How did you feel in school? What did you do about it? What do you wish you had done about it? What are you doing now to prevent others from the kind of painful experiences you suffered?

PREDICTABILITY OF THE FRUIT(S) OF THE SPIRIT

From this chart on a previous page, we look at a familiar congruence between Fruit of the Spirit No. 5 and one of civilization’s most desirable traits. Find the spot on the solid line where your KINDNESS percentile score would be. Then gage whether you need to pursue or coast the rest of the way up.

We continually ask, What’s the connection between KINDNESS and COMMUNICATION. Actually, who wants to talk with a mean person? We avoid mean persons. Mean persons suffer from lack of respect. They don’t get positive strokes from mean or unkind behavior. They are a plague. We avoid them. That makes them even more severely mean.

DISCUSSION

Some persons learn KINDNESS from their parents and friends. So, does KINDNESS come from God, or learned from people? If you didn’t learn good communication from your parents, are you doomed to never learn it?

Some persons need to suffer the consequences of their UNKIND behavior, before they hit bottom, look around, and finally get converted?

How does a person convert a nasty neighbor into a KIND Christian? Do you know of someone who converted a neighbor from meanness to KINDNESS?

“Kill with KINDNESS.” Is a clichet. Does it work?

KINDNESS AS A HELPFUL LIFESTYLE

THE GRAPH SHOWS A 365% DIFFERENT LEVEL IN COMMUNICATION AS KINDNESS AVERAGES RISE FROM THE LOWEST 10% TO THE HIGHEST 10%.(Part of that rise is attributed to putting the whole “Fruit(s) of the Spirit” package together, with conversion to Christ, and pursuit of the faith.)

People communicate. So do other species. Communication is socialization. Communication is part of what helps persons relate to other persons. Without communication humans would be somewhat reduced to resemble the animal world. Hurt and angry people tend to attack or withdraw. Groups help people socialize and express LOVE. Groups help people express their inner feelings or ideas. Groups help people communicate as a higher-level human being. KINDNESS is statistically associated with COMMUNICATION and they need each other to be successful

If you are a Christian this connection between social science and the Bible should enable you to rejoice in the practical value of your faith. If you are not a believer or are not committed to God’s ways, then we ask you to make a commitment to God, through his Son Jesus Christ, to begin to live by optimum lifeskills.

DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?

Higher kindness and higher communication go together. Is there a parallel in your life? Do you need to volunteer (extend your inner kindness) more to let the spiritual level of your being flow? Or don’t you care? Or don’t you see the connection?

ON THE AVERAGE, IF YOUR LEVEL OF LIFESKILL VALUES (including kindness) FOLLOWS THE TOP LINE, RATHER THAN THE BOTTOM LINE, YOU CAN EXPECT AN AVERAGE OF 26.5% LESS STRESS IN 58 CATEGORIES OF YOUR LIFE.

That is exciting news. It sounds as exciting at the ancient promise that is nearly 3000 or more years old. “If you want a long and satisfying life, closely follow my instructions. Never forget to be truthful and KIND (to show mercy in KJ)” (Proverbs 3:3 LB). The Biblical and the social sciences are generally not very far apart.

Solomon, the author of Proverbs, is given credit for this wisdom from God. Solomon lived about 1000 years before Christ. Not until now (as far as the author knows) have the tools of scientific research been applied to determine the practical value of KINDNESS that Solomon gave to us.

With research conclusions like this, doubters and skeptics will need to find some stronger excuses to avoid the merits of being a Christian. The doubters and skeptics will need to rationalize and deny the existence of the ultimate truth and practical advantages of KINDNESS. They will need to deal with their guilt, when they know that UN-KIND behaviors have a detrimental effect on their well-being and longevity.

DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?

A person can be kind without being a Christian. So why should I become a born-again Christian?

SPIRITUAL PURSUITS YIELD BENEFITS.

HERE ARE SOME ASSOCIATED BENEFITS FROM INCREASED LEVELS OF KINDNESS.

The bar graph represents 300 persons sorted into deciles (bars representing 30 persons in each of 10 groups) with average scores in those deciles (bars) ranging from low KINDNESS (left) to higher KINDNESS (right). Along side the 10 levels of KINDNESS (bars) are bars for GIVING, CARING, INFLUENCE AND GENEROSITY each representing its level as associated with KINDNESS. Notice that scores in these are associated with increases in average levels of KINDNESS.

The divine way of living comes from a composite set of factors that are associated together, interact and influence each other. Higher levels of these factors, working together generally pays off in spite of random accident, natural disaster, and a certain amount of persecution. In tragic situations Fruit(s) of the Spirit are lifeskills that open up more choices, like prayer, meditation, and trusting God’s ultimate justice. The benefits or outcomes are varied and numerous. The indwelling presence of God’s Spirit makes it possible. “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32 KJ). If one values the promises of God that makes obstacles and difficulties easier to handle.

God really wants to help people. However, God does not force himself on anyone. God says, “Behold, I stand at the door (or your heart) and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in to him and eat with him and he with me.” “He who conquers I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:20-21 RSV). Everyone is invited to take the higher-level roads that God has laid out for winners.

YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO THINK LIKE GOD.

THE TOP SIDE OF THE CHART REPRESENTS THE PERCENTAGE OF DIVORCED PERSONS WITH LOW-KINDNESS SCORES. THEY MAKE UP ONE THIRD OF THE DATA BASE, BUT THEY HAVE DOUBLE THE DIVORCE RATE IN COMPARISON TO HIGHER “KINDNESS” GROUP.

The Bible says, “A righteous person may have troubles, but the Lord delivers them from them all” (Psalm 34:19 NIV).

Both the Bible and research send a message about the benefits of living by some optimum lifestyle principles. The research shows a connection. Higher KINDNESS is associated with stronger bonds that contribute to the prevention of divorce.

Christianity is a system of the soul’s commitment and connection with God. It isn’t a reward system. Christians face peer rejection and even persecution. Kind deeds do not necessarily generate the rewards. Christianity doesn’t work that way. It is a faith system that puts people in contact with higher forms of truth, out of which flow great inner resources to both tolerate discomfort and conquer painful forces. The statistics you see are meant to fire up your passion for becoming a child of God and doing things God’s way, which provides greater benefits.

DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?

At what age or grade level should persons be taught about KINDNESS and its benefits?

JOIN THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN KINDNESS.

THIS CHART SHOWS AN INVERSE (OPPOSITE) ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HIGHER KINDNESS AND LOWER INCIDENCE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

The chart compares the top 30% of KINDNESS scores with the bottom 30% of KINDNESS scores. Persons in the lower 30% level (the unkindness level) averaged 700% more incidents of SUBSTANCE ABUSE as reported by the persons who filled out the questionnaire. Notice above there is jump from 19 incidents (admitted substance abuse) for the 90 high-KINDNESS persons (30%), to 133 incidents (admitted substance abuse) of the 90 low-KINDNESS persons (30%). Higher-level spirituality prevents substance abuse for many persons.

Epidemiological (inventory type) research sees “associations” more than cause and effect relationships. One could argue that drug use is the cause of the low KINDNESS rates. Or we could argue the other way, that low KINDNESS contributes to drug usage. The social sciences refrain from saying one is cause and the other is effect. The social sciences can only say they are “associated.” However, we are dealing with a Biblical model, not only a social science model. Galatians 5:22-23 proclaims that one’s spiritual source (faith) produces (causes) a Fruit of the Spirit which is KINDNESS. KINDNESS in one’s behavior comes from one’s soul, wherein lies higher spirituality. UN-kindness, then, comes out of low-level spirituality. If KINDNESS delivers behaviors, that in turn, deliver health and well-being benefits, then UN-kindness reduces the health and well-being benefits. If KIND-er persons do less substance abuse, then UN-kind persons do more. Part of the answer to substance abuse is living by the a higher-level of the Fruit(s) of the Spirit.

DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?

Non-KIND persons have a statistically higher incidence of drug abuse. Christians understand their Savior can reclaim UNKIND persons through treatment. If the reclamation program you used showed these 50+ charts in this study to unkind persons, what do you think the effect would be on them?

TAKE THE HIGH ROAD TO SELF-CONFIDENCE.

THE GRAPH SHOWS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN SELF-CONFIDENCE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER KINDNESS. THERE IS A 64% ELEVATION IN SELF-CONFIDENCE SCORES BETWEEN THE LOWEST 30 PERSONS IN KINDNESS (Left end of solid bar) AND THE HIGHEST LEVEL 30 PERSONS IN KINDNESS (right end of solid bar).

Jason Jorgenson was quite heavy during his elementary school years. Fellow classmates sometimes teased Jason about his weight. At times they used unkind nicknames instead of his real name. He never fought back. He simply let others have their fun, but the fun was at his expense. Sometimes he cried at night. Occasionally, he had a nightmare in which he was being taunted for his weight. The teasing felt like rejection and ridicule. He hurt a lot. He never told anyone. Even some of his Sunday School classmates liked to call him by a painful nickname.

Jason entered high school. His weight stayed higher than he liked. He played football. His weight was to his advantage in playing football. He got compliments for his size in football. He began to have fewer nightmares, and seldom cried at night anymore. In Jason’s junior year he volunteered to tutor a 6th grader to read better. When football season was over he would go to his elementary school and help a young boy, named Brian, assigned to him. Jason enjoyed helping Brian. He liked the respect he received from the teachers. It was good for his inner self. It helped rebuild some of his self-esteem, lost in earlier years.

College was even better. In college, he refused to acknowledge any name addressed to him other than his name, Jason. Jason did more volunteering. He volunteered to help with building a homecoming float. He volunteered with his fraternity to paint a house for a person with multiple sclerosis. He volunteered whenever he could. By the time he finished college he had regained his self-esteem. Jason illustrates a fundamental principle. Instead of withdrawing because of his hurts, he became a kind person who gave away more Positive Strokes than he had gotten earlier in life. His faith in himself (self-confidence) gave him that success.

KINDNESS COMBINED WITH OTHER FRUIT(S)

THIS IS A PICTURE OF GOD’S OPTIMUM LIFESKILLS. As indicated before, If one Fruit of the Spirit is higher in a person, generally all that person’s Fruit(s) are higher. You need the whole package to lift you to a higher level of optimum lifestyle functioning. The Fruit(s) of the Spirit (pieces of the pie of your life) may vary in size, but hopefully they are big enough to get you where you want to go, in this life and in the life hereafter.

“And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you” (Romans 12:2 KJ and LB).

If you lived in Ephesus or Corinth, in the Apostle Paul’s day, you might have seen “ born-again” people change radically. You might have seen converts to Christianity who had been liars, cheaters and drunks turn into respectable people. In the course of time the change could convince a neighbor to become a Christian.

Today, radical change from inner spirituality may be less apparent. First of all, our cities are larger and people are less involved with neighbors. Today, a person could be converted and make enormous changes, but his or her neighbor may not ever realize what has happened. Because of this deterioration in social involvement people do not see the radical changes that people make because of their conversions to God through Jesus Christ.

DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?

Is anyone in the group inspired by God to take this Christian LifeSkills study or discussion guide and talk with his or her child, friend or neighbor about Christ and the benefits of being a Christian?

PART 2

UPGRADING LOW-LEVEL KINDNESS

Kindness is a word that covers many different but similar behaviors. Here are some dictionary synonyms.

friendly

warm

generous

helpful

sympathetic

considerate

tolerant

courteous

thoughtful

agreeable

pleasant

understanding

Since 1950 a number of researchers began to explore which values were the most helpful. Dozens of persons offered lists of values. The first published list of values appeared in 1935. However, the idea of kindness was not in that list. Another ( Scott, 1959) published list had 18 moral categories. Again, the concept of kindness was not in that list. The first list ( Rokeach, 1969, 1972) that contained a concept like “kindness” used the word “helpful.” That word “helpful” found its way into another list (Kilman, 1972). The concept of kindness was put into the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule by using the word succorance, a rather archaic word for helpfulness. The Adjective Check List (Gough and Heilbrun) also uses the word succorance.

The Biblical word for kindness in the Greek language of the New Testament is chrestotes. In Galatians 5:22-23 it is translated by the English word KINDNESS. In II Corinthians 6:6 that same Greek word is translated by the English words long-suffering. Chrestotes is also translated by the word goodness, easy and gracious.

MR. KIND AND MR. GROWLY ARE GOING TO DEBATE.

“I am Mr. KIND. I am a fairly happy looking person. Some of my ancestors believed in God, worshiped God and were very honorable persons. They became KIND persons because they had suffered a lot from UN-KIND persons. They did not like UN-KIND behavior, so they searched for ways to live by kindness. That is how I got my family name. I would like to convince Mr. UN-KINDNESS that my way is superior. Kindness is an optimum lifestyle. My common sense tells me that, and the Bible also tells me that.”

“I am Mr. GROWLY. I do not believe in kindness to others, only to myself and perhaps a friend or two. I have some kindness, mostly about 10%. I’m a tough minded person. I form opinions from what I read and see. I get very intolerant of lying, deceit, corruption, injustice and a lot of things. I do not believe I must be kind to some people if I do not approve of what they do. It is more appropriate to say that I am partly mean, partly hostile, partly tolerant. I’m a fighter, not a lover. Look at me. I do not even look like a kind lover.”

DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?

How can two persons polarize so badly?

YOU NEED TO CHANGE NO! I DO NOT!

“I am MR. KIND. I was not always this way. I yelled at other people for their poor driving. I criticized baggers in the grocery story. I grumped about my children’s behavior quite a lot. I had many negative feelings inside that were prompting me to open my mouth and let them out. However, I have learned that I was doing that too much. I read in the Bible. “Before every man (person) there lies a wide and pleasant road s/he thinks is right” (Proverbs 16:25). I decided to take a slightly narrower road that uses the Fruit of the Spirit, KINDNESS.”

“I am MR. GROWLY. Why should I change. I get along OK! Kindness is for sissies. Kindness is good if you can afford it. I have to work hard. I dropped out of high school because my father died and I had to go to work. I have a very hard job. I come home exhausted. I have a few drinks. I enjoy a few cigarettes. I eat. I go to bed. I sleep. I get up and go to work. My boss is not a kind person. He does not make life easier. The people I work with are not kind either. They only understand yelling. I have a right to be hostile and intolerant of some things.”

DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?

People polarize in their opinions. Many persons have thoughts and feelings like MR. GROWLY. What, if anything, can we do for those people?

“Blessed be the Lord for he has shown me his marvelous kindness.”

(Psalm 31:21).

“You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion . . . plenteous in mercy and truth.”

(Psalm 86:15).

I LIVE BY HIGHER VALUES. I LIVE BY MY VALUES.

MR. KIND SAYS, “I want to answer your objections. Unkind persons pay some prices. Over the long haul persons who are low in KINDNESS have more problems. — If you were in high school and had very little KINDNESS you would have about a 1000% higher risk of becoming a drop out. And didn’t I hear you say that you dropped out of high school? — Low kindness increases divorce risk rate by 210%. — Low kindness is associated with double the number of migraine headaches. — Low kindness is associated with 60% higher level of anxiety attacks at times of stress in your life. — Low kindness is associated with 26% higher level of alcohol problem symptoms, and 37.9% higher level of smoking symptoms. Your longevity of life is generally shortened by these stress factors.”

MR GROWLY IS SAYING, “I am really not as old as I look. I have had a hard life and there is a lot of unhappiness inside my BODY, inside my MIND, inside my SPIRIT, inside my emotional life, my PSYCHE. — I sense that people do not like me. I really don’t care. I get sort of ornery and mean when I get mad. I let fly a few choice words, and people get lost. — I was born this way. I was really never any different, but I saw a lot of folks who were different. I always wondered how they got that way. — No one ever taught me about anger and how to get over it when I went to school. My parents didn’t know how to stop all their arguing. Their arguing seemed like it was their sport. I did not realize it stunted my emotional growth.”

DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?

How can we be convinced and how can we convince others that God’s lifeskills are the blueprint for better living? How can we get people to believe it when God’s advice is: “If you want a long and satisfying life, closely follow my instructions. Never forget to be truthful and KIND” (Proverbs 3:2-3 LB).

“INSIDE YOU ARE “THAT’S THE REAL ME!

HARMFUL PICTURES!” I’M O.K.!”

MR. KIND SAYS, “Accepting our fate is somewhat typical of most people. God is not in the business of letting people accept their fate. God’s blueprint shows that we can transcend or live above troubles. Natural catastrophes bombard us. Angry people hurt us. Accidents occur and can leave us miserable. We make wrong or ignorant decisions and we cry over it. With all of this happening to us, God demonstrates that his power, his lifeskills, his truth can help lift us out of misery. Accepting fate is not what God is about. God is active, daily, in the process of creating, renewing and improving. We are created in his image to do the same. When we fail to connect with God, we fail to take advantage of his No. 5 Fruit of the Spirit, KINDNESS.

MR GROWLY SAYS, “What you see is what I am. If you get a picture of me as being un-kind, then that is what you live with. I don’t see myself as bad. I may be a little different. I really do not care what others think. I don’t even care what your God thinks. I do my own praying to my own God. My God understands me. Five years ago my little nephew was sick. I prayed for him. He got better. I thanked God. — However, when a pesky salesman comes to my yard, I run em off. I come out with my shotgun in my hand. I tell them they aren’t welcome. Only once did I have to fire a shot in the air to show I mean business. — I don’t like your god-talk about blueprints. Are you trying to make me feel guilty for my lifestyle? I don’t like feeling guilty, and I won’t let you make me feel guilty.”

DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?

How many visits do you think you might need to make to win this kind of person over to believing in the God who upgrades lives?

“SIR, YOUR HEART NO! I RUN MY LIFE!

RUNS YOUR LIFE.”

MR KIND SAYS, “Sir! Your heart, (soul, psyche), your brain and your passions run your life! But if your brain is filled with incorrect information, irrational information, or no good information at all, then your heart, your brain and your passions can misguide you. You have some irrational ideas about KINDNESS. You do not seem to believe that KINDNESS will make any difference in your life. Living according to God’s ways is living by the truth. Living by God’s guidance gives you advantages. Listen to what God says, “(People) are alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance . . . They become callous . . . They don’t care any more about right and wrong” (Ephesians 4:18-19 RSV + LB).

MR GROWLY SAYS, “You think I am living on the edge of trouble because I don’t know some things. Well I know a lot! I may not know everything in the world. I have friends. We think the same way. We talk about you do-gooders, who think you have a better way of life. We don’t care if you do. We have good minds. We pay our taxes. We live by the laws. What more do you want? We don’t lie to each other. We all have hearts. We love each other. We do not understand what you are talking about. We care about our friends. We care about God.”

DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?

Mr. GROWLY has little idea of what Mr. Kind is talking about. How would you go about convincing Mr. GROWLY of the value of being a Christian?

“HIGHER VALUES HAVE “I DON’T CARE!

HIGHER BENEFITS!”

MR. KIND SAYS, “Your spiritual value system and your soul (heart) determines your attitudes and behavior. Scientists have been measuring people’s values and their benefits for about 50 years. I can show you graphs. The graphs show that if you have more kindness, you have more benefits. Persons with higher levels of kindness averaged 15.3% healthier (fewer incidence of medical problems). You may possibly not know that a spiritual person has a statistical health advantage. That health advantage is associated with his/her kindness level. The Bible says the same thing. “Kind words are like honey, enjoyable and healthful.” (Proverbs 16:24). The Bible and this research agree.

MR. GROWLY SAYS, “So you want me to be spiritual, eh? Well, I have some advice for you. I say it like this, ‘When your number is up, you’re dead.’ That is what I believe. I never heard anything different until you came along. — Now, you are making me a little curious. You are trying to make a believer out of me! Right? Most of the time I don’t take kindly to that, but you say some very interesting things. You are saying that doing things God’s way is a lot healthier and a lot more successful. And you are saying you have some facts to prove it. Well, I’m not stupid. I’ll have a deeper look at them.”

DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?

It sounds like MR. KIND is getting through to MR. GROWLY after a few conversations. The dialogue is showing that some statistical research information is getting MR. GROWLY’s attention. If we combine a research statistic approach with a Biblical approach, how much more successful can we be in evangelism?

“LET ME INTO YOUR HEART! OK, JUST A LITTLE”

MR KIND SAYS, “I am trying to enter your heart through your rational mind. Let me have a place inside your heart. Believe me and ask me to be inside you because I am scientifically factual as well as Biblically true. Don’t let yourself live with a false notion about Christianity. Kindness is to your advantage. Kindness comes in a package called the Fruit(s) of the Spirit. Letting me come into your heart opens up a whole list of benefits. — In a way, I come from God. I represent God. Being partly divine, I also change or renew your life.”

MR. GROWLY SAYS, “I sense you are already making some progress in getting inside me. I don’t know what my friends will think of me if I really let you run my life. These friends will think I have gone crazy. They’ll say that to me. We stick together pretty close. They might just reject me if I get too KIND. I have a fear of that.”

DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?

Peer pressure keeps people both inside and outside of faith in God through his Son Jesus Christ. In the earlier part of this session we saw statistical graphs of benefits of higher-level KINDNESS. Are you gaining a stronger commitment to the Christian faith by those statistics? What more do you need to learn to have a higher level of KINDNESS?

“OK! THANKS FOR GIVING ME A LITTLE BIT MORE SPACE IN YOUR LIFE!”

Notice that MR. GROWLY let KINDNESS come into his heart. That is because truth has a way of being very convincing. Notice, he BELIEVED the scientific evidence. He was rational enough, and truthful enough to follow the evidence. Many persons dislike the idea of being dependent on a blueprint for their lives. They prefer to act on their own, without advice. Christians are generally willing to listen to advice. Sometimes they do not follow the advice they know is best. If you do not want to BELIEVE either the Bible, or science, then you lose the benefits and pay higher penalties in sickness and unhappiness.

DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?

God has been working with people on earth for several thousand years. People let Him into their lives, but then forget to follow the blueprints for his optimum lifeskills. God wants people to gain the blessings of living by the blueprints He has been drawing for people. People throughout the ages have abandoned his blueprints for optimum lifestyle living. They suffer for it. The Bible is a record of the many times that people were brought back to God’s design for living. Describe how well you think the Christian church is doing in publishing and promoting God’s optimum lifestyle program.

WHEN GOD ENTERS THE HEART, KINDNESS REMAKES A PERSON MORE AND MORE INTO THE IMAGE OF GOD.

If you connect with God, then the new rational beliefs overcome your impulse-living style that is often very painful to others and very destructive to oneself. In the figure you see kindness growing and taking command of the heart, mind and soul. Impulse-living is just not very productive. It is where we start out in life. It is also where the animals start out and stay. People who are more productive tend to keep learning more facts and apply the facts to control their destiny. The Christian faith is like that. It is a system that promotes truth, facts, and learning. Worship and Sunday School pulls that together in many ways. People who believe, worship and study do not intend to be superior. They intend to become helpful and caring persons. They know there are benefits derived from a lifestyle that includes educated, wise and caring service.

To get the benefits you connect with God. Listen, “By [God’s] power he has given us wonderful benefits to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us his own character . . . but to obtain these gifts you need more than faith . . learn to know God better . . put aside your own desires . . become patient . . . become godly . . . The more you do this the more fruitful you will be . .This will make it possible for you to enjoy other people and to like them . . Whoever fails to follow is blind and short-sighted” (II Peter 1:4-9 LB). (Repetition is needed for us to let it sink in and make the changes we need.)

GOD REMOLDED MR. GROWLY WITH BIBLE STUDY, PRAYER AND SERVICE.

MR. GROWLY SAYS, “Rational, truthful beliefs helped me change. I was once a skeptic. I had ideas about God that were apparently not true. The computer has generated information to demonstrate the truth of God. That is quite revolutionary. Who would ever have guessed that a person could harness the scientific process with computer technology, and examine the spiritual lives of people, to validate the benefits of living by the Fruit(s) of the Spirit?”

“Many things made this research project possible. Dr. Franken had a passion for truth. He had a Doubting Thomas approach to faith. He generally believes that if something does not work, you fix it or throw it away. That permeated his faith as well. Dr. Franken had very extensive training in psychology, statistics and research. His son gave him a hand-me-down computer that was upgraded about 2 dozen times. He stayed on the cutting edge of computer spreadsheet technology, as well as graphics technology. He finally said, ‘The computer made me do it.’ The computer spreadsheet has made this entire study possible.”

“Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve, but as for me and my house I will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

SUMMARY

This is a sampling of the conclusions that were derived from research on the Fruit(s) of the Spirit. There are benefits for most of the efforts that people put into their kindness levels.

Christianity, when it operates as it should, gets people to think of God as their model. Jesus becomes a living example. The Holy Spirit flows from God to give us the power to pursue God’s lifestyle. Since God is love, we love. Since God forgives, we forgive. Since God gave Jesus power, God gives us power, etc. That is where the benefits come from. It all comes out of a conversion of psychic (soul) processes that need to be turned more compassionately toward others than toward oneself. (The animal in us needs to be tamed.)

THE EFFECT OF RESEARCH ON THE CONCEPT OF SALVATION

Since the Reformation, the emphasis has swung so far to “salvation by faith alone” and “salvation by grace” alone, that any “work” we do to improve is criticized as an Arminian or a free-will heresy. We need balance. Bible verses like the following help to preserve the balance. “Work hard and cheerfully at all you do . . . remembering that it is the Lord Christ who is going to pay you, giving you your full portion of all he owns” Colossians 3:24 LB. Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life more abundantly” John 10:10. That takes some study and self-discipline.

This research makes it reputable to aim for higher functional behaviors. This research makes it admirable for an adult church member to continue in an ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM on Sunday morning or some other time.

At present, a few adults, with small children, truck their small ones off to Sunday School and wander aimlessly around, sometimes “auditing” a course in something the Christian Education Director believed might entice the languid and the lethargic into participation. Its not surprising. Most adults haven’t a clue about what to do to become spiritually stronger. And they wouldn’t have any reason to do that, except some deeply covered prick of guilt that they should be better. The research for the statistics and graphics presented in this Christian LifeSkills study/discussion beat a strong drum for courses directed to upbuilding character, which means saving us from the corruption we bring on ourselves by low-level Fruit(s) of the Spirit.

“Salvation,” for some persons, has become an end-in-itself, not a means-to-a-higher functionality. For many persons “salvation to eternal life” is more important than salvation from problematic consequences due to low levels of spirituality.

Somewhere, there must be a happy middle ground. I believe people have great need for “ salvation to eternal life.” On the other hand many people have a great need to grow spiritually, a sort of salvation that saves people from problems in this life. The statistics of this research show that a person will benefit little with low-level spirituality. But we need “salvation” preached. We need sanctification (cleansing) skills taught in Adult Education.

“Now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 12:13 KJ). The Living Bible translates this, “The coming of the Lord is nearer than when we first believed.” The translators of the Living Bible are somewhat more oriented to end times. The translators of the King James version of the Bible more rightly focus on “salvation” as a waking up in the here and now to experience God’s “saving” us from stress and trouble through belief in God’s Son Jesus Christ.

“Salvation” is something you have in order to “escape the pollution of this world” now, as well as a prize after you have it in this life. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God . . . that ye may be able to stand in the evil day” (Ephesians 6:17). “Salvation” and “spirituality” (Fruit(s) of the Spirit) are tools against those evil influences which would lower the benefits levels of our faith. With lower benefits of low-level Fruit(s) of the Spirit, we are going to be harmed, pained and possibly destroyed. Salvation is something you activate to transcend obstacles in this world, as well as to gain blessing in God’s heavenly kingdom after this world is destroyed.

Church-goers should be aware of the enormous 25%+ stress-reduction effect of higher levels of spirituality. This research should help. Living above the 66th percentile in the Fruit(s) of the Spirit gives that 25% edge to persons who are living in the top one-third of the Fruit(s) of the Spirit. This is a 25%+ benefit for every day of one’s life. That’s an enormous benefit for people.

Benefits-oriented sermons would help. Benefit-oriented behavior skill training (like some of the information in the last half of each of the chapters in this book) in Adult Education could help. These would deliver some higher-level spirituality and higher-level “salvation” for fighting off evil forces.

MY COMMITMENT TO INCREASING MY KINDNESS

EXAMPLES

1. I believe that an attitude of KINDNESS will reduce stress by an average of about 25% in these areas of my life.

a. anxiety stress f. financial stress

b. depression stress g. alcohol stress

c. medical stress h. smoking stress

d. marital stress i. overweight stress

e. job stress j. nutrition stress

k. allergy stress

2. I will become kinder to _______, _______, _______, _______, _______.

3. I will become kinder in the following situations,

_______, _______, _______, _______

4. In my prayers I will open myself to see all the areas in my life where I have a tendency to be unkind. _______ (Check this.)

5. I am discovering that I was adding to my own misery by simply being unkind in a variety of situations. _______ (Check this.)

6. Here are some other attitudes and behaviors that may be making me unkind.

a. I am sometimes too busy to recognize when I am unkind. _____

b. My heavy responsibilities at work may be making me unkind. _____

c. People’s mistakes trigger some of my unkindness. _____

d. When people don’t remember things, I can become unkind. _____

e. (Check the above if appropriate to you, or write your own.)

“THAT’S ALL FOR NOW FOLKS!”

(Appreciation is given to the unknown artist who created the two faces in this chapter.)

LIFESKILLS TRAINING CENTER \| Home \| Ch.1. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF \| Christians believe in JOY and CHEERFULNESS \| Christians keep trying to be peaceful - Ch 3 in Lifeskills \| Christians keep trying to be PATIENCE and TOLERANT \| Random acts of kindness \| Christians believe in the generosity virtue \| Christians seek to be trusted persons \| Gentleness is a universal value \| Self control is a universal virtue
Click on arrows to read and print out chapters.	Random acts of kindness No. 5 Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 In the book LIFESKILLS 101: Higher Core Values Winners Live by Kindness comes from a lot of forgiving. Each section in this study series uses research, statistical conclusions and graphic information to persuade you to be a Christian or influence you to have a strong faith. According to statistical averages, the Christian faith delivers better health, greater happiness and prevents many self-generated problems. You will see this in the following pages. BIBLICAL DIMENSIONS BIBLICAL WORD STUDY ON KINDNESS, Fruit of the Spirit, No. 5 The word KINDNESS has a number of synonyms; compassion, mercy, loving kindness, sympathy. The following survey gives some idea of the Biblical usage of the idea of KINDNESS. The Hebrew word rachum (or rachimim) is used in the Old Testament many times This Hebrew word is translated into English by such words as “compassion” or “mercy or “loving-kindness” In II Samuel 2:6 David shows “loving kindness” to the people of Jabesh Gilead who retrieved the body of Saul after he had been killed by the Philistines. The Hebrew word chesed is translated by the word “kindness” 44 times in the Old Testament. Chesed is also translated by “mercy” 119 times in the Old Testament. The Greek word eleeo (and elemon) is the New Testament equivalent and is usually translated into English by the word “kind” or “compassionate” or “merciful.” For example, “Blessed (benefitted) are the merciful (elee’o) for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). The Greek word chrestos is frequently used and also translated by the word “kind” in the King James version of the Bible. During Paul’s trip to Rome he was shipwrecked. “After we had escaped we then learned that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us unusual kindness (chrestos), for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold” (Acts 28:1-2). The Greek word sumpatheo has much the same sentiment but when it was translated into English the King James translators used the phrase, “be touched with the feeling” (Hebrews 4:15 KJ). The RSV and the New International Version use the word “sympathy.” “For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with us.” Other Hebrew and Greek words translated by the word “kindness” are; chamal, chanan, oikteiro, splagknidzomai, philanthropia, philadelphia. The social sciences have mostly done their research around similar concepts that have a measure of kindness in them, such as empathy, sympathy, inclusion, tolerance, acceptance, respect needs of others, appreciation. etc. The research from which the charts are created has included this broad range of both the Biblical concepts and the optimum lifeskills of the social sciences. OVERVIEW BEHAVIORS THAT ARE UNKIND Gang control, peer pressure, Racial prejudice Crime, substance abuse, Divorce, violence Treating others as inferior and making fun of them HARMFUL EFFECTS OF UNKIND BEHAVIOR UNKIND behavior starts wars. UNKIND deeds are destructive to one’s own health. UNKIND persons are 7 times more likely to be on illegal drugs. UNKIND outcomes start with unkind beliefs. UNKIND efforts put fear and guilt in one’s own soul. BEING GODLY IS BEING KIND. God’s indwelling presence gives a heart of kindness. God’s Word becomes your spiritual Global Positioning System. God walks with his friends on trails most people walk alone. God assures his followers that they will be benefitted more than others. God and you make this a better world with kindness. THE KEY THEME OF THIS MATERIAL Claiming to be a Christian is not enough. Profession of belief in Jesus Christ is not the same as behaving like God wants us to behave. God wants elevated levels of Fruit(s) of the Spirit. Higher levels of spirituality does not always occur automatically. Believers need to learn how to translate the best beliefs into the best behaviors, in order to obtain the most optimum outcome for health, happiness and well-being. BEFORE WE GO FURTHER, IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT LEVEL OF “KINDNESS” WE FUNCTION AT. HIGH “KINDNESS” IS AT THE TOP, BUT MEANNESS, INDIFFERENCE, SELF-CENTEREDNESS, ARE AT THE OTHER END, THE BOTTOM. TO FIND OUT WHERE WE STAND BETWEEN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF “KINDNESS” AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF “SELF-PREOCCUPATION”, EACH OF YOU IS BEING OFFERED A TEST TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE IN THAT SPECTRUM. HERE IS THAT TEST. PART 1 YOU CAN USE THIS SET OF QUESTIONS TO MEASURE YOUR GENERAL KINDNESS LEVEL. Pick out the most appropriate response. Write the number of that response in the space provided by that statement. 0=Never, 1=Rarely, 2=Occasionally, 3=Sometimes, 4=Frequently, 5=Almost always 41. I am a sympathetic person. 42. I will stop what I am doing to help a hurting person. 43. I listen as long as necessary when someone talks. 44. I will cancel something to be with a sick person. 45. I am concerned about social problems like poverty. 46. While others punish quickly, I listen for explanations. 47. People come to me with their problems. 48. I spend a lot of time helping others solve problems. 49. I feel good when I can help someone 50. I listen easily and get others to share deep feelings. TOTAL (This is Segment No. 5 of Darrell Franken’s Christian Personality Profile built around the Fruit(s) of the Spirit. These questions are a synthesis of the questions found in 39 major published tests. Keep your answers to yourself.) Take the TOTAL and go to the next page. Find your TOTAL which is on the left side of the column. “One of the most difficult things to give away is KINDNESS, because it is usually returned.” Author unknown PREDICTABILITY OF THE FRUIT(S) OF THE SPIRIT There are 4 levels of “regular” attenders scores in KINDNESS (A-B-C-D). One-fourth (A) averaged quite low at 24. That is only 50% of the world’s average in KINDNESS. Not so great for Christians. B level of KINDNESS is just average with the world universal value of KINDNESS. The C level of 64 is respectable for Christian. So is (D) level at 61. Both C and D exceed the KINDNESS of the “Never” Attend worship persons. In the privacy of your own thoughts each person deals with their own level of KINDNESS. Some persons struggled from 30 to 40 and it may have taken them a lot more spirituality to go that distance than someone else who likewise started out with 30 but sped up the scale more rapidly and with less effort to a 68 or so. DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS? Where is the church failing, in its effort to get people to be more spiritual? What is there about the culture of our community or church, which makes some of its people so unable to reach a higher level of KINDNESS? What can the church do about it? What would you like our church to do about it? GOD, JESUS, HOLY SPIRIT, AND CHURCH FRIENDS The chart shows 4 levels of “regular” worshipers (A-B-C-D) levels of KINDNESS and one level (E) of “NEVER” worshipers average level of KINDNESS. It is true that there are some persons who attend church “regularly” and are only half way up to the level of kindness in “people of the world.” (Shame!) Jason’s parents were luke-warm, half-hearted, once-a-year church goers. They were like so many. They never quite believed that worship made a difference. No one had ever showed them any statistics like those found in this Christian LifeSkills study/discussion. Jason’s whole family muddled along with more stress and more conflict than average. There was far more shouting going on in the home than necessary. Thus, Jason’s attendance at a chapel service at college was quite unusual. In that Chapel service students gave testimonies of how they changed when they became committed to Christ. Suddenly Jason sensed that he had been missing out. That is when Jason’s desire to increase his KINDNESS through volunteering. He attended Chapel four years. He volunteered all four years, out of his desire to be kind, rather than cruel (like he felt he was treated). At graduation Jason had lost his low-self-worth and he never turned back. Scientifically designed epidemiological studies are supporting what you believe. You can thank God that his church makes a positive contribution to your life and to those to whom you show kindness. If you do not have enough KINDNESS or you are willing to make a commitment to make this a better world, then make sure you worship regularly. DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS OR FEELINGS? How did you feel in school? What did you do about it? What do you wish you had done about it? What are you doing now to prevent others from the kind of painful experiences you suffered? PREDICTABILITY OF THE FRUIT(S) OF THE SPIRIT From this chart on a previous page, we look at a familiar congruence between Fruit of the Spirit No. 5 and one of civilization’s most desirable traits. Find the spot on the solid line where your KINDNESS percentile score would be. Then gage whether you need to pursue or coast the rest of the way up. We continually ask, What’s the connection between KINDNESS and COMMUNICATION. Actually, who wants to talk with a mean person? We avoid mean persons. Mean persons suffer from lack of respect. They don’t get positive strokes from mean or unkind behavior. They are a plague. We avoid them. That makes them even more severely mean. DISCUSSION Some persons learn KINDNESS from their parents and friends. So, does KINDNESS come from God, or learned from people? If you didn’t learn good communication from your parents, are you doomed to never learn it? Some persons need to suffer the consequences of their UNKIND behavior, before they hit bottom, look around, and finally get converted? How does a person convert a nasty neighbor into a KIND Christian? Do you know of someone who converted a neighbor from meanness to KINDNESS? “Kill with KINDNESS.” Is a clichet. Does it work? KINDNESS AS A HELPFUL LIFESTYLE THE GRAPH SHOWS A 365% DIFFERENT LEVEL IN COMMUNICATION AS KINDNESS AVERAGES RISE FROM THE LOWEST 10% TO THE HIGHEST 10%.(Part of that rise is attributed to putting the whole “Fruit(s) of the Spirit” package together, with conversion to Christ, and pursuit of the faith.) People communicate. So do other species. Communication is socialization. Communication is part of what helps persons relate to other persons. Without communication humans would be somewhat reduced to resemble the animal world. Hurt and angry people tend to attack or withdraw. Groups help people socialize and express LOVE. Groups help people express their inner feelings or ideas. Groups help people communicate as a higher-level human being. KINDNESS is statistically associated with COMMUNICATION and they need each other to be successful If you are a Christian this connection between social science and the Bible should enable you to rejoice in the practical value of your faith. If you are not a believer or are not committed to God’s ways, then we ask you to make a commitment to God, through his Son Jesus Christ, to begin to live by optimum lifeskills. DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS? Higher kindness and higher communication go together. Is there a parallel in your life? Do you need to volunteer (extend your inner kindness) more to let the spiritual level of your being flow? Or don’t you care? Or don’t you see the connection? ON THE AVERAGE, IF YOUR LEVEL OF LIFESKILL VALUES (including kindness) FOLLOWS THE TOP LINE, RATHER THAN THE BOTTOM LINE, YOU CAN EXPECT AN AVERAGE OF 26.5% LESS STRESS IN 58 CATEGORIES OF YOUR LIFE. That is exciting news. It sounds as exciting at the ancient promise that is nearly 3000 or more years old. “If you want a long and satisfying life, closely follow my instructions. Never forget to be truthful and KIND (to show mercy in KJ)” (Proverbs 3:3 LB). The Biblical and the social sciences are generally not very far apart. Solomon, the author of Proverbs, is given credit for this wisdom from God. Solomon lived about 1000 years before Christ. Not until now (as far as the author knows) have the tools of scientific research been applied to determine the practical value of KINDNESS that Solomon gave to us. With research conclusions like this, doubters and skeptics will need to find some stronger excuses to avoid the merits of being a Christian. The doubters and skeptics will need to rationalize and deny the existence of the ultimate truth and practical advantages of KINDNESS. They will need to deal with their guilt, when they know that UN-KIND behaviors have a detrimental effect on their well-being and longevity. DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS? A person can be kind without being a Christian. So why should I become a born-again Christian? SPIRITUAL PURSUITS YIELD BENEFITS. HERE ARE SOME ASSOCIATED BENEFITS FROM INCREASED LEVELS OF KINDNESS. The bar graph represents 300 persons sorted into deciles (bars representing 30 persons in each of 10 groups) with average scores in those deciles (bars) ranging from low KINDNESS (left) to higher KINDNESS (right). Along side the 10 levels of KINDNESS (bars) are bars for GIVING, CARING, INFLUENCE AND GENEROSITY each representing its level as associated with KINDNESS. Notice that scores in these are associated with increases in average levels of KINDNESS. The divine way of living comes from a composite set of factors that are associated together, interact and influence each other. Higher levels of these factors, working together generally pays off in spite of random accident, natural disaster, and a certain amount of persecution. In tragic situations Fruit(s) of the Spirit are lifeskills that open up more choices, like prayer, meditation, and trusting God’s ultimate justice. The benefits or outcomes are varied and numerous. The indwelling presence of God’s Spirit makes it possible. “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32 KJ). If one values the promises of God that makes obstacles and difficulties easier to handle. God really wants to help people. However, God does not force himself on anyone. God says, “Behold, I stand at the door (or your heart) and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in to him and eat with him and he with me.” “He who conquers I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:20-21 RSV). Everyone is invited to take the higher-level roads that God has laid out for winners. YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO THINK LIKE GOD. THE TOP SIDE OF THE CHART REPRESENTS THE PERCENTAGE OF DIVORCED PERSONS WITH LOW-KINDNESS SCORES. THEY MAKE UP ONE THIRD OF THE DATA BASE, BUT THEY HAVE DOUBLE THE DIVORCE RATE IN COMPARISON TO HIGHER “KINDNESS” GROUP. The Bible says, “A righteous person may have troubles, but the Lord delivers them from them all” (Psalm 34:19 NIV). Both the Bible and research send a message about the benefits of living by some optimum lifestyle principles. The research shows a connection. Higher KINDNESS is associated with stronger bonds that contribute to the prevention of divorce. Christianity is a system of the soul’s commitment and connection with God. It isn’t a reward system. Christians face peer rejection and even persecution. Kind deeds do not necessarily generate the rewards. Christianity doesn’t work that way. It is a faith system that puts people in contact with higher forms of truth, out of which flow great inner resources to both tolerate discomfort and conquer painful forces. The statistics you see are meant to fire up your passion for becoming a child of God and doing things God’s way, which provides greater benefits. DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS? At what age or grade level should persons be taught about KINDNESS and its benefits? JOIN THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN KINDNESS. THIS CHART SHOWS AN INVERSE (OPPOSITE) ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HIGHER KINDNESS AND LOWER INCIDENCE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE. The chart compares the top 30% of KINDNESS scores with the bottom 30% of KINDNESS scores. Persons in the lower 30% level (the unkindness level) averaged 700% more incidents of SUBSTANCE ABUSE as reported by the persons who filled out the questionnaire. Notice above there is jump from 19 incidents (admitted substance abuse) for the 90 high-KINDNESS persons (30%), to 133 incidents (admitted substance abuse) of the 90 low-KINDNESS persons (30%). Higher-level spirituality prevents substance abuse for many persons. Epidemiological (inventory type) research sees “associations” more than cause and effect relationships. One could argue that drug use is the cause of the low KINDNESS rates. Or we could argue the other way, that low KINDNESS contributes to drug usage. The social sciences refrain from saying one is cause and the other is effect. The social sciences can only say they are “associated.” However, we are dealing with a Biblical model, not only a social science model. Galatians 5:22-23 proclaims that one’s spiritual source (faith) produces (causes) a Fruit of the Spirit which is KINDNESS. KINDNESS in one’s behavior comes from one’s soul, wherein lies higher spirituality. UN-kindness, then, comes out of low-level spirituality. If KINDNESS delivers behaviors, that in turn, deliver health and well-being benefits, then UN-kindness reduces the health and well-being benefits. If KIND-er persons do less substance abuse, then UN-kind persons do more. Part of the answer to substance abuse is living by the a higher-level of the Fruit(s) of the Spirit. DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS? Non-KIND persons have a statistically higher incidence of drug abuse. Christians understand their Savior can reclaim UNKIND persons through treatment. If the reclamation program you used showed these 50+ charts in this study to unkind persons, what do you think the effect would be on them? TAKE THE HIGH ROAD TO SELF-CONFIDENCE. THE GRAPH SHOWS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN SELF-CONFIDENCE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER KINDNESS. THERE IS A 64% ELEVATION IN SELF-CONFIDENCE SCORES BETWEEN THE LOWEST 30 PERSONS IN KINDNESS (Left end of solid bar) AND THE HIGHEST LEVEL 30 PERSONS IN KINDNESS (right end of solid bar). Jason Jorgenson was quite heavy during his elementary school years. Fellow classmates sometimes teased Jason about his weight. At times they used unkind nicknames instead of his real name. He never fought back. He simply let others have their fun, but the fun was at his expense. Sometimes he cried at night. Occasionally, he had a nightmare in which he was being taunted for his weight. The teasing felt like rejection and ridicule. He hurt a lot. He never told anyone. Even some of his Sunday School classmates liked to call him by a painful nickname. Jason entered high school. His weight stayed higher than he liked. He played football. His weight was to his advantage in playing football. He got compliments for his size in football. He began to have fewer nightmares, and seldom cried at night anymore. In Jason’s junior year he volunteered to tutor a 6th grader to read better. When football season was over he would go to his elementary school and help a young boy, named Brian, assigned to him. Jason enjoyed helping Brian. He liked the respect he received from the teachers. It was good for his inner self. It helped rebuild some of his self-esteem, lost in earlier years. College was even better. In college, he refused to acknowledge any name addressed to him other than his name, Jason. Jason did more volunteering. He volunteered to help with building a homecoming float. He volunteered with his fraternity to paint a house for a person with multiple sclerosis. He volunteered whenever he could. By the time he finished college he had regained his self-esteem. Jason illustrates a fundamental principle. Instead of withdrawing because of his hurts, he became a kind person who gave away more Positive Strokes than he had gotten earlier in life. His faith in himself (self-confidence) gave him that success. KINDNESS COMBINED WITH OTHER FRUIT(S) THIS IS A PICTURE OF GOD’S OPTIMUM LIFESKILLS. As indicated before, If one Fruit of the Spirit is higher in a person, generally all that person’s Fruit(s) are higher. You need the whole package to lift you to a higher level of optimum lifestyle functioning. The Fruit(s) of the Spirit (pieces of the pie of your life) may vary in size, but hopefully they are big enough to get you where you want to go, in this life and in the life hereafter. “And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you” (Romans 12:2 KJ and LB). If you lived in Ephesus or Corinth, in the Apostle Paul’s day, you might have seen “ born-again” people change radically. You might have seen converts to Christianity who had been liars, cheaters and drunks turn into respectable people. In the course of time the change could convince a neighbor to become a Christian. Today, radical change from inner spirituality may be less apparent. First of all, our cities are larger and people are less involved with neighbors. Today, a person could be converted and make enormous changes, but his or her neighbor may not ever realize what has happened. Because of this deterioration in social involvement people do not see the radical changes that people make because of their conversions to God through Jesus Christ. DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS? Is anyone in the group inspired by God to take this Christian LifeSkills study or discussion guide and talk with his or her child, friend or neighbor about Christ and the benefits of being a Christian? PART 2 UPGRADING LOW-LEVEL KINDNESS Kindness is a word that covers many different but similar behaviors. Here are some dictionary synonyms. friendly warm generous helpful sympathetic considerate tolerant courteous thoughtful agreeable pleasant understanding Since 1950 a number of researchers began to explore which values were the most helpful. Dozens of persons offered lists of values. The first published list of values appeared in 1935. However, the idea of kindness was not in that list. Another ( Scott, 1959) published list had 18 moral categories. Again, the concept of kindness was not in that list. The first list ( Rokeach, 1969, 1972) that contained a concept like “kindness” used the word “helpful.” That word “helpful” found its way into another list (Kilman, 1972). The concept of kindness was put into the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule by using the word succorance, a rather archaic word for helpfulness. The Adjective Check List (Gough and Heilbrun) also uses the word succorance. The Biblical word for kindness in the Greek language of the New Testament is chrestotes. In Galatians 5:22-23 it is translated by the English word KINDNESS. In II Corinthians 6:6 that same Greek word is translated by the English words long-suffering. Chrestotes is also translated by the word goodness, easy and gracious. MR. KIND AND MR. GROWLY ARE GOING TO DEBATE. “I am Mr. KIND. I am a fairly happy looking person. Some of my ancestors believed in God, worshiped God and were very honorable persons. They became KIND persons because they had suffered a lot from UN-KIND persons. They did not like UN-KIND behavior, so they searched for ways to live by kindness. That is how I got my family name. I would like to convince Mr. UN-KINDNESS that my way is superior. Kindness is an optimum lifestyle. My common sense tells me that, and the Bible also tells me that.” “I am Mr. GROWLY. I do not believe in kindness to others, only to myself and perhaps a friend or two. I have some kindness, mostly about 10%. I’m a tough minded person. I form opinions from what I read and see. I get very intolerant of lying, deceit, corruption, injustice and a lot of things. I do not believe I must be kind to some people if I do not approve of what they do. It is more appropriate to say that I am partly mean, partly hostile, partly tolerant. I’m a fighter, not a lover. Look at me. I do not even look like a kind lover.” DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS? How can two persons polarize so badly? YOU NEED TO CHANGE NO! I DO NOT! “I am MR. KIND. I was not always this way. I yelled at other people for their poor driving. I criticized baggers in the grocery story. I grumped about my children’s behavior quite a lot. I had many negative feelings inside that were prompting me to open my mouth and let them out. However, I have learned that I was doing that too much. I read in the Bible. “Before every man (person) there lies a wide and pleasant road s/he thinks is right” (Proverbs 16:25). I decided to take a slightly narrower road that uses the Fruit of the Spirit, KINDNESS.” “I am MR. GROWLY. Why should I change. I get along OK! Kindness is for sissies. Kindness is good if you can afford it. I have to work hard. I dropped out of high school because my father died and I had to go to work. I have a very hard job. I come home exhausted. I have a few drinks. I enjoy a few cigarettes. I eat. I go to bed. I sleep. I get up and go to work. My boss is not a kind person. He does not make life easier. The people I work with are not kind either. They only understand yelling. I have a right to be hostile and intolerant of some things.” DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS? People polarize in their opinions. Many persons have thoughts and feelings like MR. GROWLY. What, if anything, can we do for those people? “Blessed be the Lord for he has shown me his marvelous kindness.” (Psalm 31:21). “You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion . . . plenteous in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 86:15). I LIVE BY HIGHER VALUES. I LIVE BY MY VALUES. MR. KIND SAYS, “I want to answer your objections. Unkind persons pay some prices. Over the long haul persons who are low in KINDNESS have more problems. — If you were in high school and had very little KINDNESS you would have about a 1000% higher risk of becoming a drop out. And didn’t I hear you say that you dropped out of high school? — Low kindness increases divorce risk rate by 210%. — Low kindness is associated with double the number of migraine headaches. — Low kindness is associated with 60% higher level of anxiety attacks at times of stress in your life. — Low kindness is associated with 26% higher level of alcohol problem symptoms, and 37.9% higher level of smoking symptoms. Your longevity of life is generally shortened by these stress factors.” MR GROWLY IS SAYING, “I am really not as old as I look. I have had a hard life and there is a lot of unhappiness inside my BODY, inside my MIND, inside my SPIRIT, inside my emotional life, my PSYCHE. — I sense that people do not like me. I really don’t care. I get sort of ornery and mean when I get mad. I let fly a few choice words, and people get lost. — I was born this way. I was really never any different, but I saw a lot of folks who were different. I always wondered how they got that way. — No one ever taught me about anger and how to get over it when I went to school. My parents didn’t know how to stop all their arguing. Their arguing seemed like it was their sport. I did not realize it stunted my emotional growth.” DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS? How can we be convinced and how can we convince others that God’s lifeskills are the blueprint for better living? How can we get people to believe it when God’s advice is: “If you want a long and satisfying life, closely follow my instructions. Never forget to be truthful and KIND” (Proverbs 3:2-3 LB). “INSIDE YOU ARE “THAT’S THE REAL ME! HARMFUL PICTURES!” I’M O.K.!” MR. KIND SAYS, “Accepting our fate is somewhat typical of most people. God is not in the business of letting people accept their fate. God’s blueprint shows that we can transcend or live above troubles. Natural catastrophes bombard us. Angry people hurt us. Accidents occur and can leave us miserable. We make wrong or ignorant decisions and we cry over it. With all of this happening to us, God demonstrates that his power, his lifeskills, his truth can help lift us out of misery. Accepting fate is not what God is about. God is active, daily, in the process of creating, renewing and improving. We are created in his image to do the same. When we fail to connect with God, we fail to take advantage of his No. 5 Fruit of the Spirit, KINDNESS. MR GROWLY SAYS, “What you see is what I am. If you get a picture of me as being un-kind, then that is what you live with. I don’t see myself as bad. I may be a little different. I really do not care what others think. I don’t even care what your God thinks. I do my own praying to my own God. My God understands me. Five years ago my little nephew was sick. I prayed for him. He got better. I thanked God. — However, when a pesky salesman comes to my yard, I run em off. I come out with my shotgun in my hand. I tell them they aren’t welcome. Only once did I have to fire a shot in the air to show I mean business. — I don’t like your god-talk about blueprints. Are you trying to make me feel guilty for my lifestyle? I don’t like feeling guilty, and I won’t let you make me feel guilty.” DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS? How many visits do you think you might need to make to win this kind of person over to believing in the God who upgrades lives? “SIR, YOUR HEART NO! I RUN MY LIFE! RUNS YOUR LIFE.” MR KIND SAYS, “Sir! Your heart, (soul, psyche), your brain and your passions run your life! But if your brain is filled with incorrect information, irrational information, or no good information at all, then your heart, your brain and your passions can misguide you. You have some irrational ideas about KINDNESS. You do not seem to believe that KINDNESS will make any difference in your life. Living according to God’s ways is living by the truth. Living by God’s guidance gives you advantages. Listen to what God says, “(People) are alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance . . . They become callous . . . They don’t care any more about right and wrong” (Ephesians 4:18-19 RSV + LB). MR GROWLY SAYS, “You think I am living on the edge of trouble because I don’t know some things. Well I know a lot! I may not know everything in the world. I have friends. We think the same way. We talk about you do-gooders, who think you have a better way of life. We don’t care if you do. We have good minds. We pay our taxes. We live by the laws. What more do you want? We don’t lie to each other. We all have hearts. We love each other. We do not understand what you are talking about. We care about our friends. We care about God.” DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS? Mr. GROWLY has little idea of what Mr. Kind is talking about. How would you go about convincing Mr. GROWLY of the value of being a Christian? “HIGHER VALUES HAVE “I DON’T CARE! HIGHER BENEFITS!” MR. KIND SAYS, “Your spiritual value system and your soul (heart) determines your attitudes and behavior. Scientists have been measuring people’s values and their benefits for about 50 years. I can show you graphs. The graphs show that if you have more kindness, you have more benefits. Persons with higher levels of kindness averaged 15.3% healthier (fewer incidence of medical problems). You may possibly not know that a spiritual person has a statistical health advantage. That health advantage is associated with his/her kindness level. The Bible says the same thing. “Kind words are like honey, enjoyable and healthful.” (Proverbs 16:24). The Bible and this research agree. MR. GROWLY SAYS, “So you want me to be spiritual, eh? Well, I have some advice for you. I say it like this, ‘When your number is up, you’re dead.’ That is what I believe. I never heard anything different until you came along. — Now, you are making me a little curious. You are trying to make a believer out of me! Right? Most of the time I don’t take kindly to that, but you say some very interesting things. You are saying that doing things God’s way is a lot healthier and a lot more successful. And you are saying you have some facts to prove it. Well, I’m not stupid. I’ll have a deeper look at them.” DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS? It sounds like MR. KIND is getting through to MR. GROWLY after a few conversations. The dialogue is showing that some statistical research information is getting MR. GROWLY’s attention. If we combine a research statistic approach with a Biblical approach, how much more successful can we be in evangelism? “LET ME INTO YOUR HEART! OK, JUST A LITTLE” MR KIND SAYS, “I am trying to enter your heart through your rational mind. Let me have a place inside your heart. Believe me and ask me to be inside you because I am scientifically factual as well as Biblically true. Don’t let yourself live with a false notion about Christianity. Kindness is to your advantage. Kindness comes in a package called the Fruit(s) of the Spirit. Letting me come into your heart opens up a whole list of benefits. — In a way, I come from God. I represent God. Being partly divine, I also change or renew your life.” MR. GROWLY SAYS, “I sense you are already making some progress in getting inside me. I don’t know what my friends will think of me if I really let you run my life. These friends will think I have gone crazy. They’ll say that to me. We stick together pretty close. They might just reject me if I get too KIND. I have a fear of that.” DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS? Peer pressure keeps people both inside and outside of faith in God through his Son Jesus Christ. In the earlier part of this session we saw statistical graphs of benefits of higher-level KINDNESS. Are you gaining a stronger commitment to the Christian faith by those statistics? What more do you need to learn to have a higher level of KINDNESS? “OK! THANKS FOR GIVING ME A LITTLE BIT MORE SPACE IN YOUR LIFE!” Notice that MR. GROWLY let KINDNESS come into his heart. That is because truth has a way of being very convincing. Notice, he BELIEVED the scientific evidence. He was rational enough, and truthful enough to follow the evidence. Many persons dislike the idea of being dependent on a blueprint for their lives. They prefer to act on their own, without advice. Christians are generally willing to listen to advice. Sometimes they do not follow the advice they know is best. If you do not want to BELIEVE either the Bible, or science, then you lose the benefits and pay higher penalties in sickness and unhappiness. DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS? God has been working with people on earth for several thousand years. People let Him into their lives, but then forget to follow the blueprints for his optimum lifeskills. God wants people to gain the blessings of living by the blueprints He has been drawing for people. People throughout the ages have abandoned his blueprints for optimum lifestyle living. They suffer for it. The Bible is a record of the many times that people were brought back to God’s design for living. Describe how well you think the Christian church is doing in publishing and promoting God’s optimum lifestyle program. WHEN GOD ENTERS THE HEART, KINDNESS REMAKES A PERSON MORE AND MORE INTO THE IMAGE OF GOD. If you connect with God, then the new rational beliefs overcome your impulse-living style that is often very painful to others and very destructive to oneself. In the figure you see kindness growing and taking command of the heart, mind and soul. Impulse-living is just not very productive. It is where we start out in life. It is also where the animals start out and stay. People who are more productive tend to keep learning more facts and apply the facts to control their destiny. The Christian faith is like that. It is a system that promotes truth, facts, and learning. Worship and Sunday School pulls that together in many ways. People who believe, worship and study do not intend to be superior. They intend to become helpful and caring persons. They know there are benefits derived from a lifestyle that includes educated, wise and caring service. To get the benefits you connect with God. Listen, “By [God’s] power he has given us wonderful benefits to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us his own character . . . but to obtain these gifts you need more than faith . . learn to know God better . . put aside your own desires . . become patient . . . become godly . . . The more you do this the more fruitful you will be . .This will make it possible for you to enjoy other people and to like them . . Whoever fails to follow is blind and short-sighted” (II Peter 1:4-9 LB). (Repetition is needed for us to let it sink in and make the changes we need.) GOD REMOLDED MR. GROWLY WITH BIBLE STUDY, PRAYER AND SERVICE. MR. GROWLY SAYS, “Rational, truthful beliefs helped me change. I was once a skeptic. I had ideas about God that were apparently not true. The computer has generated information to demonstrate the truth of God. That is quite revolutionary. Who would ever have guessed that a person could harness the scientific process with computer technology, and examine the spiritual lives of people, to validate the benefits of living by the Fruit(s) of the Spirit?” “Many things made this research project possible. Dr. Franken had a passion for truth. He had a Doubting Thomas approach to faith. He generally believes that if something does not work, you fix it or throw it away. That permeated his faith as well. Dr. Franken had very extensive training in psychology, statistics and research. His son gave him a hand-me-down computer that was upgraded about 2 dozen times. He stayed on the cutting edge of computer spreadsheet technology, as well as graphics technology. He finally said, ‘The computer made me do it.’ The computer spreadsheet has made this entire study possible.” “Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve, but as for me and my house I will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). SUMMARY This is a sampling of the conclusions that were derived from research on the Fruit(s) of the Spirit. There are benefits for most of the efforts that people put into their kindness levels. Christianity, when it operates as it should, gets people to think of God as their model. Jesus becomes a living example. The Holy Spirit flows from God to give us the power to pursue God’s lifestyle. Since God is love, we love. Since God forgives, we forgive. Since God gave Jesus power, God gives us power, etc. That is where the benefits come from. It all comes out of a conversion of psychic (soul) processes that need to be turned more compassionately toward others than toward oneself. (The animal in us needs to be tamed.) THE EFFECT OF RESEARCH ON THE CONCEPT OF SALVATION Since the Reformation, the emphasis has swung so far to “salvation by faith alone” and “salvation by grace” alone, that any “work” we do to improve is criticized as an Arminian or a free-will heresy. We need balance. Bible verses like the following help to preserve the balance. “Work hard and cheerfully at all you do . . . remembering that it is the Lord Christ who is going to pay you, giving you your full portion of all he owns” Colossians 3:24 LB. Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life more abundantly” John 10:10. That takes some study and self-discipline. This research makes it reputable to aim for higher functional behaviors. This research makes it admirable for an adult church member to continue in an ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM on Sunday morning or some other time. At present, a few adults, with small children, truck their small ones off to Sunday School and wander aimlessly around, sometimes “auditing” a course in something the Christian Education Director believed might entice the languid and the lethargic into participation. Its not surprising. Most adults haven’t a clue about what to do to become spiritually stronger. And they wouldn’t have any reason to do that, except some deeply covered prick of guilt that they should be better. The research for the statistics and graphics presented in this Christian LifeSkills study/discussion beat a strong drum for courses directed to upbuilding character, which means saving us from the corruption we bring on ourselves by low-level Fruit(s) of the Spirit. “Salvation,” for some persons, has become an end-in-itself, not a means-to-a-higher functionality. For many persons “salvation to eternal life” is more important than salvation from problematic consequences due to low levels of spirituality. Somewhere, there must be a happy middle ground. I believe people have great need for “ salvation to eternal life.” On the other hand many people have a great need to grow spiritually, a sort of salvation that saves people from problems in this life. The statistics of this research show that a person will benefit little with low-level spirituality. But we need “salvation” preached. We need sanctification (cleansing) skills taught in Adult Education. “Now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 12:13 KJ). The Living Bible translates this, “The coming of the Lord is nearer than when we first believed.” The translators of the Living Bible are somewhat more oriented to end times. The translators of the King James version of the Bible more rightly focus on “salvation” as a waking up in the here and now to experience God’s “saving” us from stress and trouble through belief in God’s Son Jesus Christ. “Salvation” is something you have in order to “escape the pollution of this world” now, as well as a prize after you have it in this life. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God . . . that ye may be able to stand in the evil day” (Ephesians 6:17). “Salvation” and “spirituality” (Fruit(s) of the Spirit) are tools against those evil influences which would lower the benefits levels of our faith. With lower benefits of low-level Fruit(s) of the Spirit, we are going to be harmed, pained and possibly destroyed. Salvation is something you activate to transcend obstacles in this world, as well as to gain blessing in God’s heavenly kingdom after this world is destroyed. Church-goers should be aware of the enormous 25%+ stress-reduction effect of higher levels of spirituality. This research should help. Living above the 66th percentile in the Fruit(s) of the Spirit gives that 25% edge to persons who are living in the top one-third of the Fruit(s) of the Spirit. This is a 25%+ benefit for every day of one’s life. That’s an enormous benefit for people. Benefits-oriented sermons would help. Benefit-oriented behavior skill training (like some of the information in the last half of each of the chapters in this book) in Adult Education could help. These would deliver some higher-level spirituality and higher-level “salvation” for fighting off evil forces. MY COMMITMENT TO INCREASING MY KINDNESS EXAMPLES 1. I believe that an attitude of KINDNESS will reduce stress by an average of about 25% in these areas of my life. a. anxiety stress f. financial stress b. depression stress g. alcohol stress c. medical stress h. smoking stress d. marital stress i. overweight stress e. job stress j. nutrition stress k. allergy stress 2. I will become kinder to _______, _______, _______, _______, _______. 3. I will become kinder in the following situations, _______, _______, _______, _______ 4. In my prayers I will open myself to see all the areas in my life where I have a tendency to be unkind. _______ (Check this.) 5. I am discovering that I was adding to my own misery by simply being unkind in a variety of situations. _______ (Check this.) 6. Here are some other attitudes and behaviors that may be making me unkind. a. I am sometimes too busy to recognize when I am unkind. _____ b. My heavy responsibilities at work may be making me unkind. _____ c. People’s mistakes trigger some of my unkindness. _____ d. When people don’t remember things, I can become unkind. _____ e. (Check the above if appropriate to you, or write your own.) “THAT’S ALL FOR NOW FOLKS!” (Appreciation is given to the unknown artist who created the two faces in this chapter.)	This book may be purchased ------- Click on this pircure to pay through PayPal, a secure server.