GUEST BLOG: Skip Moen – St. Paul Diet

I’ve read different Bible studies and more than a few books about the Bible. Yet I can tell you that none of those writings has been as helpful and insightful as the daily writings of my friend, Skip Moen.

Skip is a truly gifted man who spent much of his life chasing worldly success (and achieved it as a wealthy ex-businessman who retired on a beach house well before retirement age). Just to warm you up to the kind of learned man he is:

Educational Background

• D. Phil. Oxford University, Oxford, England. 1979
  Dissertation: “God, Time and the Limits of Omniscience”
• M.A. University of Washington, Seattle, WA. 1975
• M.A. (cum laude) Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL. 1973
  Dissertation: “The Epistemology of Karl Popper in Relation to the Problem of Science and Metaphysics”
• B.A. University of Washington, Seattle, WA. 1971
• B.A. (magna cum laude) Seattle Pacific College, Seattle, WA. 1969

Business/Academic Background:

• 3/05 – present Dean, Dept. of Biblical Leadership, Master’s International Divinity School
• 3/06 – 10/07 Executive Director, BlueSky Ministries
• 7/00 – 3/01 President, Wherever.net USA Inc.
• 6/84 – 1/96 President, TELEOS Incorporated. Management consulting firm.
• 9/93 – 5/96 Adjunct Professor, Drew University, Graduate School.
• 1/95 – 7/95 Adjunct Professor, Kean College. Philosophy and Religion
• 8/84 – 3/85 President, Worldcom, Inc. Technical search firm.
• 4/81 – 6/84 District Manager, AT&T.
• 12/80 – 3/81 Instructor, University of Puget Sound

God, however, wanted Skip to have more than wealth: God wanted Skip’s heart. In Skip’s own words -

I had everything in life, except purpose. God had to take everything away in my life to give me purpose, and I’d never trade it back!

I read Skip’s words just about every day. He’s a brilliant student of not only the Bible, but of Hebrew thought. He understands the why behind the words and the cultural significance in the teachings. You, too, can subscribe to Skip’s daily emails by supporting his ministry. Honestly, this is a gift worth as much as you have to offer.

Today’s blog post is from Skip. I’m taking the liberty of putting an entire lesson up on my blog site because it so resonated with me. You can find all of his writings and how to subscribe over at SkipMoen.com. Withour further ado, here’s Skip’s thoughts from today that deeply resonated within me.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts Romans 13:14

Provision – It’s that last ten pounds.  We start diets to lose weight.  The first few pounds come off.   Then we get invited to a dinner party or we go to the movies or we meet for lunch with our friends.  Suddenly we are faced with a big problem.  The menu doesn’t allow for the diet.  All that good stuff we used to eat is right there in front of us.  Now what?

Paul knew nothing about the South Beach Diet, but he knew a lot about his diet plan.  His diet is not about weight loss and it doesn’t start with calorie counting.  It begins in the mind.  Paul’s spiritual diet is about lustful anticipations.  Paul tells us to make absolutely certain that we make no allowances for the “just in case” behaviors that destroyed our lives in the first place.

The alcoholic who keeps just one bottle in the bottom drawer just in case problems overwhelm him.  The drug addict who keeps that distributor’s number just in case he has a really bad night.  The man who keeps a photo of a past mistress.  The woman who holds on to a past romance from long ago.  The businessman who squirrels away some hidden, unreported income.  The church member who has a secret chat room ID he swears he will never use again.  You can add your own “provisions” to the list.  The best ones are secrets kept in plain sight.  As Stevie Ray would say, “Things that I used to do.”

Paul says, “No!  Don’t even allow the slightest possibility.”  Actually, the Greek word is pronoian, a word derived from “before” and “to think”.  In other words, don’t think about it beforehand.  Don’t plan for the possibility of lusts (literally, sarkos – the flesh).  Just thinking about it brings back emotions that can trip you up.  Turning those things over in your mind, anticipating that they will one day once again be possible, is a very dangerous behavior.  Why?  Is it because God doesn’t want you to remember some past pleasure with nostalgic fondness?  Is it because God is a cruel taskmaster who just wants your total obedience to His next order?  Of course not.  Paul gives these instructions because he knows that God’s perfect purposes worked out in your life are the very best circumstances for you.  God is conforming you to the image of His Son.  That process leads away from past sinful actions and future, anticipated sins.  It is a singular focus on the will of the Father in your life.  Here Paul would say, “Forgetting what lies behind, I press on.”  If Paul were writing a weight loss book, he would tell you to stay away from the restaurants, dinner parties and theaters.  He would cross off every McDonald’s and prohibit all snacks.  But since he is writing about our spiritual well-being, you will have to fill in the “don’t go there” list.

I am sure you agree.  God wants your best and engineers your life to bring about what is best for you in the fulfillment of His purposes.  But that requires concentration on Him and denial of self.  Anticipating “just in case” behaviors is a sign of unbelief and distrust.  It just doesn’t fit.  So, don’t allow it.

Every diet plan is unique to the individual because every one of us has a unique set of propensities and past experiences.  But in total they are all common to the human frame.  So, lean on each other.  Share your burdens.  Lift up each other.  Build safety nets in your community.  We are all in this together and when it comes to spiritual health, we all need plenty of help.

Skip has a great way of helping you see things through the filter of Hebrew thought! And when it comes to Paul, he helps us see the Jewish Rabbi, not just the completed Jew. The Bible always comes alive, but when Skip adds in the contextual background and cultural history, things really pop off the page for me.

Thank you, Skip, for your insight and your love for our Lord!

Please support Skip’s ministry by donating here.

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2 Responses to “GUEST BLOG: Skip Moen – St. Paul Diet”

1. Skip Moen says:

   June 30, 2009 at 4:04 PM

   Hey Anthony,
   Thanks for the kind words and the endorsement. I was so surprised when I saw this. I'm just one more guy trying to help the rest of us in the boat become all that God has in mind. I'm very glad to have you as a reader and a friend.
   Skip

   Reply
   • anthonycoppedge says:

     June 30, 2009 at 4:15 PM

     Skip, I truly believe that God is using you through your writings to impact more people than you ever could have in even the highest echelons of the business world. What I love about you is the genius insight you provide balanced with a large dose of true humility. Unlike most people, you've been to the top of the mountain and to the bottom of the valley. Through it, you've lost everything and gained the most valuable of all. I truly love that I get to call you a friend and have access to a man of God who is helping me see through the lens of history, culture and context to better know and understand Yeshua.

     Thank you dearly, Skip.

     Your brother,

     Anthony

     Reply

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