All posts by Dr. Robin Starbuck

About Dr. Robin Starbuck

Professor of English 1973 M.A., New York University 1989 Ph.D., New York University Linguistics

A provocative comparison

Heal Yourself

We’ve pretty much established that begging and pleading with God for a much-needed healing is an exercise in futility, right? And we know that it’s not our works that bring the coveted reward.

We’ve come to realize that hearing God – through His Word (in the Bible) and through His Holy Spirit (indwelling us) – is very greatly to be desired. But how can we do so with any degree of consistency? And what about that nagging need?

I want to try to relate something that was put in my spirit which could easily be misconstrued, so please give me a little leeway! I’m feeling a profound sense of gratitude for Peter, John and Paul right now. I know I’m not a baby Christian anymore when I say that I don’t wonder how they, or anyone else, could love Jesus more than their very lives: from deep within the recesses of my soul I can say “I get it!”

When spreading the gospel and the kingdom are more important than anything the world would hurl at us – even from our own doctor’s report, when hearing and adhering to His Word thrills us more than our very life in this body, when we no longer give a darn about whatever we thought was an absolute necessity and we feel that nothing of this life means anything anymore, then are we ready to LOSE THIS LIFE.

The world will try to throw you a curve ball by saying that it’s over and you’re not ready to step into a new realm of Spiritual living and blessedness. Paul, John and Peter – and scores of other followers of Jesus – were not fazed by these worldly pursuits in their, or anyone else’s minds – so steadfastly focused were they on the Lord. They seemed to know that when you aren’t looking for ANY human reward whatsoever, that’s when life really begins.

Jumpstart listening like Samuel did!

Letter for YOU

When the Lord called him, Samuel said “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth!”
He didn’t say, “Listen, Lord, for thy servant speaketh!!

We can “JUMPSTART” our listening to God by merely supplying the obvious, such as “Okay, Robin, now this is God speaking to you from within you (where I reside) and I want you to know that ….”
(The Bible is replete with His messages to you. This is where you can draw from until His voice takes over completely and speaks intimately to you.)

ONENESS is what we’re really striving to experience. It’s a matter of conscious awareness and is immediately attainable by pondering deeply the very nature and essence of our awesome God…

Immediate response required!

Answered Prayer!

WHEN THE “THOUGHT” COMES TO YOU THAT YOU MUST PRAY about a certain issue, be aware of the need for an IMMEDIATE response! The world – your own fleshly leaning away from God – is at the core when you decide
(1) “I’ll set aside some quality time to take care of that tonight!”
(2) “I’ll just finish what I’m doing here and then I’ll get to it!”
(3) “Just a minute, and I’ll do it!”
(4) “Okay, let’s see now, what do I need to do to get started?”

No! No! No! And, No! The call upon you was for immediacy. An instantaneous response – almost like a knee-jerk reaction is what was called for. Why? TO INTERCEPT AND OBLITERATE ANY WORLDLY MOTIVATION AT THE OUTSET !!

It was crucial that you respond instantaneously – without a second thought (you’ve already given the matter more than its share of second thoughts and third thoughts ad nauseum!)

A BETTER REACTION for future reference is to f-r-e-e-z-e-!! Stop everything dead in its tracks and listen. The Lord has a perfect message, tailor-made just for you! It may take Him a matter of seconds (or less) to impart what He wants you to know and then you’re on your way!

This is a glorious training you can agree with Jesus on. The moment you hear or feel His urging, just freeze and listen. He will tell you whether a sit-down for an hour or two in the near future are indicated. “Chances” are that won’t be necessary at all!

Do you sometimes struggle?

God-centered Life

Do you sometimes struggle with all your might to hear God’s voice within you? Take heart, precious saint, He is right there – nearer than your breath. But, you know that and you still can’t hear clearly, you say? (1) The fact that you WANT HIM so deeply and sincerely guarantees success. (2) He wants to connect with you – and stay connected – even more than you do. (3) It’s never God who does the withdrawing. (4) You’re connected right now! So, …. (5) Quit listening to any lie (suggestion) that He’s not THE MOST important One to hear anytime, anyplace, anywhere.

All of your self-defeating wishes and desires will be so awestruck by your re-NEW-ed allegiance to God that they’ll cower in fear and slither off, hopefully for good this time!

Don’t look now, but you’re already sporting a warm glow, bubbling up from deep within which will overtake the selfsame suggestions that are plaguing other people yearning to be free!

Need help?

Heal Yourself

…A TREATMENT for you RIGHT HERE – RIGHT NOW…
Imagine a worst case scenario – the one person you’ve been stuffing deep inside, not able to forgive, but just to stuff, has done it again. The audacity. You can’t even put a price on the damage, the humiliation, the pain, the hours and hours wasted over it so far with no end in sight, and now these painful memories rear their ugly head again. Can you say once and for all, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”? Here’s a much more cheerful thing to ponder: Imagine how incredibly much your whole life would permanently change if you could finally put a lid on that one! I tell you what….you and me ….let’s do it together starting right now. Let’s start with our #1 offender and see him/her as God created him and as Jesus sees him. Can you see him that way right now? Keep trying. I’m trying too. See right through the false picture. They have absolutely no power over you to steal your joy for one more minute. See your offender as separate from those ugly thoughts you’ve been harboring. Don’t imagine any kind of human solution: leave it with God. YOU are the one who gets the real freedom. If you are ‘almost’ feeling glad to have had this long-term, most-disturbing challenge, you are ALREADY HOME FREE. Please, please, please don’t be afraid to CLAIM THIS COMPLETE HEALING PERMANENTLY. DON’T EVER GO BACK. I’M DOING THE SAME THING RIGHT NOW WITH YOU. Amen.

You can heal yourself now!
You can heal yourself now!

Jesus-centeredness

Christmas and other holidays

IF THE DISCIPLES HAD BEEN MORE JESUS-CENTERED THAN SELF-CENTERED, THEY COULD HAVE LITERALLY REJOICED UPON REALIZING THAT HE WOULD SOON BE BACK IN THE ARMS OF HIS LOVING ABBA FATHER !!
John 14:28 KJV
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

TONIGHT THE SHEPHERD WILL BE SMITTEN AND THE SHEEP WILL SCATTER. [HAD THEY ONLY LISTENED WITH THEIR HEART TO JESUS, THEY COULD HAVE REJOICED THROUGH UNSPEAKABLE SUFFERING.]
Mark 14:27 KJV
And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

AND IN THE MESSAGE BIBLE:
Mark 14:27 MSG
Jesus told them, “You’re all going to feel that your world is falling apart and that it’s my fault. There’s a Scripture that says, I will strike the shepherd; The sheep will go helter-skelter. “But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee.”

YOU CAN ACTUALLY REJOICE THROUGH YOUR PRESENT TRIBULATION – I-F – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE. IN THIS LIGHT, DON’T BE SURPRISED IF MIRACLES FIND THEIR WAY INTO YOUR LIFE !!

THE DISCIPLES DIDN’T NEED TO GO INTO MOURNING AND HIDING – AND NEITHER DO YOU !!

LOSE YOUR LIFE OF SELFISHNESS AND FOCUS – O-N-L-Y – ON JESUS !! YOU’LL BE SOOOO GLAD YOU DID !!

“Tongues” unloosens God’s power within you!

Q & A

SPEAKING IN TONGUES
Is speaking the wisdom of God
In a mystery.
It reaches down into that born again part of you
Your spirit
And pulls up the infinitude of wisdom
That’s already there!
..
..
Wisdom and power well up from somewhere deep, deep inside and gush out in an explosion of love.
..
..
Pray in tongues!

Praying in tongues unloosens all blockages.
Praying in tongues unloosens all blockages.

We (unlike disciples) have the Holy Spirit

Heal Yourself

IF I HAD BEEN ONE OF THE TWELVE (DISCIPLES) WHEN HEARING OF THEIR LORD’S IMPENDING DEATH AND FACED WITH UNSPEAKABLE SORROW, I COULDN’T HAVE DONE ANY BETTER . . . U-N-L-E-S-S .. I HAD HAD THE HOLY SPIRIT AS WE DO NOW. IN A FLIGHT OF FANCY, I CAN IMAGINE TRYING TO TURN THE DISCIPLES’ EYES TO THE “REAL” JESUS, SPIRITUAL AND PERFECT, AND AWAY FROM A SOON-TO-BE-BROKEN BODY. BUT NOW, PRAISE THE LORD, WE HAVE THIS HOLY SPIRIT LIVING ON THE INSIDE OF US.

His body acted as a hindrance to people, especially his disciples.

Application of Scriptures

OF COURSE, JESUS WAS SINLESS. NEVERTHELESS, HIS BODY ACTED AS A HINDRANCE TO PEOPLE – ESPECIALLY HIS DISCIPLES – PREVENTING THEM FROM SEEING HIM AS HE REALLY IS:
. . . . The Real Jesus . . . .
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. [14] His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; [15] And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. [16] And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. [17] And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Revelation 1:13-17 KJV

MY FAVORITE BIBLE PASSAGE, 2Cor5:17, HAS NOW BECOME INFINITELY MORE MEANINGFUL!!!!!

2 Corinthians 5:16-17 KJV
Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. [17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

AS HE IS SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD. (1 John 4:17)

DO YOU KNOW

…

WHO YOU ARE

…

IN CHRIST?

[As The Real Jesus is, so are we in this world.]

(Now, don’t go off and do something else! Ponder this deeply. All of that enormous power is yours. Stay with me now. It’s yours right here, right now! Don’t let the carnal mind distract you. As powerful as the thunderings of Niagara and as the fire-iest furnace … this power, and infinitely more, is on the inside of you … right … now! Don’t let it go! You CAN keep your focus!)

Assaulted by negative thoughts?

Letter for YOU

ARE YOU ASSAULTED BY NEGATIVE THOUGHTS FAR MORE OFTEN THAN YOU’D LIKE TO BE ? . NO SOONER THAN YOU GET ONE ARGUMENT UNDER CONTROL, ANOTHER ARISES MORE UNSETTLING THAN THE LAST ?

There is help for you which can totally frustrate and enervate the carnal mind’s hold that seems to have engulfed you.

Imagine (with your Godly imagination) the situation completely healed. Get really comfortable with the absence of every ungodlike thought and feeling. By all means have the Holy Spirit fully engaged as you do this. Just re-member the last topic that was under assault and let God take over and talk to you about it. Then take another and another and another.

Has complete peace set in yet? Be ready to confront those selfsame lingering thoughts all over again. When can you call it quits? Let “never!” be your mantra: then it will be over.

I don’t want to get into that trite and boring debate about whether the carnal mind is a real, tangible being that must be summarily dealt with or whether it is entirely in the realm of the non-local, non-material. But I urge us all to take carnal suggestions very seriously – long enough to inform them that they have no basis in reality and have no power over us in any guise; and, furthermore that we are not the least bit impressed by their lies and cunning presentments.