Self-Transcendence in Light of
Biblical Transformation:
By T.James www.godainicafe.com
January 1, 2026
The Question: Are you Transformed into What?
Do you feel that you have instead, rather De-formed?
Do you want to discover the Deep JOY of the only True God?

In psychotherapy and psychology fields, it is currently popular in bookstores to see entire sections on “Self-Transformation” with many authors selling their books and theories. These popular “New Age” books which they declare is as similar to ancient I-Ching (Daoism), (Old Age), all seek to guide people from their “emotional pain” into a re-birth by connecting to their “One with aliveness” or “Being-Happening” instead of using the word “God”. Sometimes the term “the god within”, is used, as a way to discover their broken
connections of life and to not only repair, but to also re-form oneself, with the help of a therapist. See (Aedp Institute) as an example of this process.

I thank God that I have discovered the Deep JOY of the only True God, and I give it to you as a free gift. I don’t need to sell you anything, its a free gift from God. I don’t need to sell you “my time” as a therapist, or as a guide or teacher, its a free gift of God. I worked for the State of Arizona many years as a “In-Home Family Therapist” serving the worse trauma families that most “psychologists and psychiatry” could ever
imagine. Then I worked for many more years as a CPS caseworker, (Child Protective Services III), expert
witness caseworker doing both years of Investigation and Long Term Case Management Resolution. It is a very emotionally demanding and high burn-out position yet God in His great Mercy sustained me and in
many case: Judges, and Lawyers would ask, “How did that terrible case ever turn out so well?” My answer, “It was a miracle from God, He gets all the Glory, not me.”

My Short Version Testimony is that I was a Fine Arts Major at Kent State University in the early 1970’s. Though I was raised in a culturally Christian home, I decided to research and explore all the different religions I could. Even in High School, I was incredibly bored with the American School system, and discovered the library. I was hungry for Truth. I read every interesting book in the library! The same in College, and then one day, my sister asked, “Have you ever read a Bible?” I had read the “Rise and Fall of the 3 rd Reich”, the “Red Book of Mao”, “I-Ching”, and books on every religion, and philosophy, Jung, Freud, including “The Quran” , yet had not yet read seriously, “The Bible.” So I prayed, “God, if you are real, and the only True God, reveal Yourself clearly to me so I have no doubt, only clarity.” I then randomly opened the Bible to Proverbs chapter one and read all 31 chapters first. At the end of the book, I said in my soul, “I flunked this test terribly. It contrasted the Wise man from the Fool, the Diligent from the Lazy, the Blessed from the Cursed.” I read more and began to realize that its not just my personal problem but that all mankind was fallen into terrible trouble and brokenness. This most ancient, and most reliable of all written History, proven by archaeologists and scientists, as verified truth, led me to study with my Hebrew friends at the Hillel House, and into the many churches to ask many questions. Yet, I gained His clear voice, that the God of the Bible was real, and was speaking to me very personally. Each day, He led me to “a daily Choice, to ignore His written/inner voice or not.

The voice of Jesus was clearer and truer than any other Voice I had know. Clearer than the philosophy of Muhammad Iqbal, or Mahatma Ghandi. Clearer than all the Native American or any other Voices I had ever heard in my soul. It was more RADICAL than any lifestyle I had ever thought to follow into Truth. “Will you lay down your old self, and pick up your cross, and FOLLOW ME?” It was an “incredible spiritual struggle”, because it became very clear OTHER forces opposed me deciding to follow Jesus. Interestingly, I asked a friend who had returned from the Vietnam War, who was an ex-Jehovah Witness, atheist what he thought of the Bible? He said, “I think you are CRAZY. If you want to follow Jesus, to believe in God, be either HOT or COLD, never Lukewarm, and he then said, And I AM Cold!” Then, someone came and brought me a “Satanic Bible” and they had reversed everything in it! In this fake Bible it says “Hate your enemies!” So then in my spirit I DECIDED. I took this fake Satanic Bible outside, to the 55 gallon trash barrel, along with the trash, and BURNED IT. I gave my entire life, fully SURRENDERED TO JESUS. No Turning BACK. I had been sharing this struggle with my friends, and they thought I was CRAZY, but in Jesus, I discovered God’s SANITY. I left this place, these friends, and Jesus began to guide me through His WORD, the Bible and the Holy Spirit, to be ADOPTED into the Biblical Family of God! Its a Discovery Journey every day of my life filled with His AMAZING DEEP JOY! Unspeakable, FULL OF GLORY. Yes, Jesus suffered, and so do I, yet for the JOY set before me? Victory!

Every morning, I randomly open my Bible and say, “Hello, Abba Father, speak to my heart today…” and I look down and begin reading and He never disappoints me. Today, it was Ist Corinthians 4:9-17, yes, the Apostle Paul, the great learned Rabbi of his day, seems like he had also gone “Crazy” by the standards of his time yet He had discovered the GREATEST JOY…the Truth of Jesus, His death on a cross, burial, and resurrection, never to die again.

“We have been made a theater (spectacle) to the world both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake. Hungry..thirsty..poorly clothed…beaten…homeless…we labor, working with our hands, reviled, we bless…persecuted…we endure…defamed…we entreat…made as the filth of the world…vs. 17, for this reason…I have SENT Timothy! Beloved and faithful son, to REMIND YOU.” I Corinthians 4:9-17…

….that the Inner Transformation JOY of the One True God of the Bible is far more true and satisfying than anything you could ever IMAGINE!

Transformed By God’s Power not Mine or Yours.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18…”Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (freedom). But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Gr. Meta-morphoo= “to change inwardly in form/character/conduct”.

Romans 12:1-2…”I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Colossians 1:13…”He has delivered us from the power of darkness, and conveyed/transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.”

Gr. “Meta-schematizo”.
“to change into another form- outwardly-Gr. passive voice”

Discerning the “true apostles” from the “false apostles” just takes a few tests: I Cor.11:7 “Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted because I preached the gospel of God to you FREE of CHARGE?”

The Apostle Paul accepted gifts, he worked to earn money for himself, full and part time, but he didn’t charge money for his services. Yet, the “false apostles” said others owed them a big salary for their great speaking or teaching abilities.

2 Corinthians 11: 13-15…”For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. (Who is doing the “changing” God? Or themselves? And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also transforms themselves into ministers of “righteousness” whose end will be according to their works.”

No big conference centers, fancy high dollar suits, millions watching the blogs every day, everyone knows the branded name! Jets, many expensive cars, etc..I think you get it..Paul asks, “Are THEY ministers of Christ?” ??? Compare Paul’s apostolic list…

2nd Corinthians 11:23…”1. in labors more abundant 2. in stripes above measure, 3. in prisons more frequently, 4. in deaths (risks to he and teams) often, 5. 5x received forty lashes with a whip minus one (39 x5), 6. three times beaten with rods, 7. once stoned (large rocks meant to kill), 8. 3x shipwrecked, a night & day in the open seas, 9. in journeys often, 10. in perils of water, 11. in perils of robbers, 12. in perils of his own national people, 13. in perils of other nations, 14. in perils of the city (urban), 15. in perils
of the wilderness (rural), 16. in perils in the sea (sharks?), 17. in perils among false brethren (human sharks), 18. in weariness and toil, 19. in sleeplessness often, 20. in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, 21. in cold and nakedness, 22. besides the other things what come upon me daily, 23. my deep concern for all the churches.”

On top of all this, a physical problem he called “a messenger of Satan” a thorn in the flesh? To keep him even more humble? ..2nd Corinthians 12:…”I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me, and He said, “My Grace is sufficient for you. For My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore MOST GLADLY I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I TAKE PLEASURE in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s SAKE, For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Paul could have claimed great depression, trauma, PTSD, need for drugs, or therapy the rest of his life! 2nd Corinthians 12:15…”And I will VERY GLADLY SPEND and BE SPENT FOR YOUR SOULS. THOUGH THE MORE ABUNDANTLY I LOVE YOU…THE LESS I AM LOVED!”

The Apostle Judas Iscariot: Acts 1:25…”this ministry and apostleship from which JUDAS by Transgression fell, (to go badly beyond), …due to sin, and suicide, rather than sincere repentance. Yes, its very hard to follow Jesus, even Peter betrayed him, yet wasn’t so angry to murder himself, which is “transformation ending in hell”. De-Formance. The decision that “I can NEVER change” hopelessness, or “My spouse or child, etc can NEVER CHANGE, and I am STUCK with them forever!” a self declared precursor of a kind of hell of suffering on earth” Despair.

The Bible: God’s Great Historical Performance!

Hebrews 12: 1…”Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, (Heb.11: Martyrs Hall of Fame and Faith) let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ENSNARES US, and let us Run with Endurance the race set before us, LOOKING TO JESUS, the Author/Originator and Finisher/Perfector of our Faith, who for the JOY that was set before Him, ENDURED the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God, for consider Him, who ENDURED such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your
souls.”

Are you Weary? Discouraged? Consider Jesus….

A loving, heavenly Father according to the Bible, has ADOPTED us if we seek Him diligently by faith. Heb.12:5…”My son, do not despise the discipline/chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him. For whom the Lord loves He disciplines/chastens and scourges every son who He receives.”

A spiritual son or daughter of Christ must experience many spiritual tests and trails of character and conduct yet those who ENDURE and TRUST GOD, are proven in the fires of testing as true family, and those who become bitter and disrespectful as false family. Which one are you? God cares for you. Do you wish to disrespect and dishonor God and to pursue your own path of Self-Transformation apart from God? OR do you wish to Honor God and Heb.12:14…”Pursue peace with all the people and Holiness without which NO ONE will see the Lord.”

I SEEK TO PURSUE JESUS…and His DEEP JOY and Continuous HEALING! God speaks to my heart daily as I deny myself and pick up my cross of trials and FOLLOW HIM. “ God has never let me down, and I thank Him for His faithfulness in my life. Rev.14:4…These are the ones who Follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” Rev.21:26…And they shall bring the Glory and the Honor of the Nations into it.” Rev.22:2…”The leaves of the tree were for the HEALING of the NATIONS.”

Yes, God not only desires us to remain in His Healing flow, but God desires the Nations of the Earth to discover and remain in His Healing Flow as well. Are you willing? Seek Him.