Better Blog Reading

For anyone who reads blogs (and does not yet use RSS) => Better Blog Reading from Desiring God Blog

Why God wills WORK

I have got to read this. Regularly.

"If we can discover how God conceives of work and why he wills it, then that huge portion of our lives that may seem so separate from religion and faith can be just as God-focused as our more religious acts."

There are four other articles by John Piper related to this one:

• Do not labor for the food which perishes
• Don't steal, work and give!
• Don't eat the bread of anxious toil
• Your job as ministry

On every page... (story from Dr. Jerry Root)

I remember when I was in seminary, the dean of our seminary came to school this one day...

He pulled up at the seminary and he was walking with a bounce to his step. And I said,

"Dr. --- , you look particularly pleased with yourself today!"

He said, "I am, Jerry!"

He said, "I finished my Bible, today, devotionally, for the 200th time."

I said, "Wow.

Then he corrected himself, "I don't count the number of times I've read it in Greek and Hebrew, I mean the times I've read it devotionally."

I said, "Well sir, you've sailed your ship a little further on this sea than I've sailed mine. Are you still finding anything new in it?

He said, "On every page... on every page."

- Encoded from "C.S. Lewis' Approach to Apologetics" by Dr. Jerry Root.

C.S. Lewis' Approach to Apologetics

"One encounters a self-effacing humility and honesty in his writing; he is not at all condescending in his apologetic work. Brilliant as he was, his arguments do not set him apart from his audience, but place him on the same road with his listeners as a fellow pilgrim. Furthermore, Lewis was a master at the use of the imagination; he was able to develop images and metaphors in order to help his audience grasp difficult concepts. He used analogies as an artist uses his brush. Lewis had a first rate mind and a poet’s power of expression."

Read the outline or listen to this lecture by Dr. Jerry Root at bethinking.org

Who stands for us?

I like this article I found about John Stott in the New York Times (from way back in 2004). What a breath of fresh air!

Thank you, David Brooks, for pointing out the unfair representation we often get.

"This is why so many people are so misinformed about evangelical Christians. There is a world of difference between real-life people of faith and the made-for-TV, Elmer Gantry-style blowhards who are selected to represent them. Falwell and Pat Robertson are held up as spokesmen for evangelicals, which is ridiculous. Meanwhile people like John Stott, who are actually important, get ignored."

Atlas Shrugged Fifty Years Later

John Piper read Ayn Rand. In fact, he says he went on an "Ayn Rand craze" back in the seventies, and even sent her an essay (critique) 3 years before her death. Rand is still so popular that I hadn't realized she lived nearly a century before me.

Bookworms' Social

I'm enjoying my stay at Shelfari, a social networking site for booklovers. My shelf's still a mess, but getting more manageable. I'm making friends, getting book recommendations, discussing my thoughts with others and even occasionally writing book reviews. It's the first SNS I've actually participated in, and I really like the people I've met so far.

Finally, God's answer to my request for a book club of some sort. This is fun! I wonder why I never joined the booklover's club back in school...

Just as I am

The song that came to mind on my 23rd birthday:

Just as I am without one plea
but that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidst me
come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Some things never change. I am still as unworthy now as I was at 16, yet loved.

Coming up to breathe - Part II

"The hardest part I'm always told, is letting go..."

I am secure because God secures me.

Safe and sound
just knowing that You're big enough to wrap around my heart completely
Safe and sound
just knowing that You know me.

"The greatest part now I know, is letting go."

Coming up to breathe - Part I

I really like MercyMe's Coming Up to Breathe album. I'm posting favorite lines I want to remember.

At the top of my list is "Where I belong", which talks about the universal search for life's meaning and purpose, and the incredible experience of one who has found these in Jesus. "Where I belong" and "I would die for You" are the theme songs of my year 2006. :-)

This excerpt from "Where I belong" -

Everybody tries to find the purpose for their life
and hopes that one more day is justified

But once you truly see the very reason why you breathe
It becomes so much more than getting by

reminds me of another song I like ("More than fine" by Switchfoot) that goes

More than fine
More than bent on getting by
More than fine
More than just okay

Going back, the chorus is spectacular. I would love to sing this together with a congregation that is just amazed, delighted, and humbled before God.

(passionately, almost vehemently... as if you can't sing it loud enough)

So I raise my hands
and shout Your name
To praise You with my song
My dreams at hand
I've found my place
the place where I belong

Longing

Wait, I can hardly wait
To look into Your face
When the world disappears into Your eyes

Wait, I can hardly wait
To bow down at Your feet
Kiss the scars
that bore my sins away










Breathe, I can hardly breathe
In anticipation
Waiting for the day to come
When You will shine on me
- Favorite lines from "Wait" by The Afters.

To listen to this song, visit http://www.myspace.com/theafters






Image taken from:
http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/05/70/22777005.jpg

So many good books!

I spent much of this day reading book reviews at Discerning Reader, and emerged with several books to add to my ever-lengthening wishlist (Wish I could/will read these):

• Who's driving the purpose-driven church? by James Sundquist
• What is Reformed Theology? by R.C. Sproul
• Heaven on earth by Stephen Nichols
• Who are you to judge? by David Swavely
• Divine Sovereignity and Human Responsibility by D.A. Carson (fast becoming a favorite because of "Basics for Believers" and "The difficult doctrine of the love of God")
• With reverence and awe
• Singing and making music by Paul Jones
• Worship by the Book by D.A. Carson

My top two priorities in this list would be "Divine Sovereignity..." and "What is reformed theology?". Hopefully, I can find them in local bookstores... otherwise... hello CBD! Or I could just read my other books for the meantime. :)

for parents!

I found an excellent article by Abraham Piper called "12 ways to love your wayward child". I'm NOT a parent (;p), but I loved Piper's treatment of the subject. I like this short article far better than the ~30-hour seminar on basic life principles I'm currently attending, but that's another story. Though no one will understand this comment, I'm learning to appreciate people like Pastor Gary Gilley a lot better because of the seminar. (Thank You, God.)

Back to the article, its best feature is its blatant God-centeredness, for which I greatly rejoice! This is characteristic of most, if not all, Piper resources, and is the reason why I visit desiringgod.org regularly and love John Piper so much. Oops, I forgot to mention, Abraham is John Piper's son. :)

I especially liked insight #4 "Don't expect them to be Christ-like". Quote: " If your son is not a Christian, he’s not going to act like one." So true -not only of non-Christian sons and daughters, but also of non-Christian parents, friends, colleagues and so on.

I've printed out copies of this article to give to Christian parents I know. It presents a very timely reminder about the whole point of reaching out to your wayward child:

"It’s not so that they will be good kids again; it’s not so that they’ll get their hair cut and start taking showers; it’s not so that they’ll like classical music instead of deathcore; it’s not so that you can stop being embarrassed at your weekly Bible study; it’s not so that they’ll vote conservative again by the next election; it’s not even so that you can sleep at night, knowing they’re not going to hell.

The only ultimate reason to pray for them, welcome them, plead with them, email them, eat with them, or take an interest in their interests is so that their eyes will be opened to Christ.

And not only is He the only point—He’s the only hope. When they see the wonder of Jesus, satisfaction will be redefined. He will replace the pathetic vanity of money, or the praise of man, or the high, or the orgasm that they are staking their eternities on right now. Only His grace can draw them from their perilous pursuits and bind them safely to Himself—captive, but satisfied."

Looking back

Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead.
Yesterday is a promise that you’ve broken.

Don’t close your eyes, don’t close your eyes!
This is your life and today is all you’ve got now

This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose

Yesterday is a kid in the corner.
Yesterday is dead and over.

This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose

- from "This is your life" by Switchfoot

My after-work song

I don't just sing it after work. It's usually the cry of my heart in the middle of a long day, a long week, or a long month at work.

Interestingly, I fell in love with this song while I was bumming around last year! Even then I felt the need to "hide" in Jesus and run away from the noise, the commotion, the endless routine and meaningless cares that bore down on me.

Suddenly Hopeful

(play this one LOUD and get ready to dance)

" The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard."

- Psalm 19: 1-3 (NIV)

I was listening to a bunch of Christian songs and "Starspin" by Downhere suddenly got me filled with hope and so much joy I had to "dance like no one's around" (The way I was made - Chris Tomlin).

Most of the time, I feel very frustrated about how far a lot of people are from God. It's a form of pride, I think, I don't trust God enough to save people who are stubborn and apathetic and presumptuous, and I think He left me too much work to do in sharing the Gospel. It's the silliest thought, really, and I'm ashamed to admit it crosses my mind. I mean, God saved me. I'm the epitome of all that is evil and stupid in the world, and He saved me. How can He not save everybody else?

Even if I keep quiet (or am FORCED to keep quiet), all of nature shall testify concerning the greatness of the Lord. I join in their glad refrain,

"People, people! Surely the Lord lives!
People, people! Heaven and earth are His!
People, people! Lift your souls in wonder!"

What a small voice I am, yet I am not God's only instrument. Far from it! There really is "no language on earth where His praises are not heard". The sky, the trees, the wind, the birds, the rocks, the flowers, the sea, the stars - they are messengers and worshipers that no one can hide. Surely, the Lord has not given His people up for lost. Surely, He speaks to them and calls out to them everyday. Thanks be to God!

Prosperity and Tribulation

"Continued worldly prosperity is a fiery trial."

"Afflictions, though they seem severe,
In mercy oft are sent."

"Although tribulation is thus the path of God's children, they have the comfort of knowing that their Master has traversed it before them; they have His presence and sympathy to cheer them."

- Excerpts from Charles Spurgeon's Morning by Morning, March 8 and March 10 entries.

Busy Bum?

August 29. 2006. 11:37 AM.

I'm supposed to be on vacation right now and people think I have all the free time in the world... I thought so too. But if having free time means having nothing to do, then I don't have any of that. I have tons of things to do - some of them I look forward to, some of them I dread. I think I'm busy because there are so many things I want to do with my life - not having homework, projects, exams or full-time work doesn't change anything. Time still flies like the wind for me, and everyday leaves undone a hundred and one things that have to be added to tomorrow's to-do list. Honestly, the only difference between life now and life as a stressed young engineering student is that I now have time to sleep for more than a few minutes each day.

I believe that "free time" is time to do whatever you want without being restrained by certain to-do's dictated by your job or school - to-do's that you don't really want to do but "have" to do. But looking at it from another perspective, I honestly believe that everyone has all the "free time" they need. I believe that every minute and every second is "free time". There are no "musts" in the world of tasks and chores except those that we choose to regard as such: I must take care of the baby; I must study for my test tomorrow; I must finish my C program tonight; I must go to school; I must meet this person; I must cook dinner; I must write my report; I must go to church; I must brush my teeth and so on and so forth.

There are definitely plenty of good reasons why you should prepare for your board exam next week or why you should attend an important business meeting, and that's why you choose to do these things despite adverse tendencies. You might be itching for couch potato time, but your wife insists that you need to spend quality time with the kids so you spend your vacation leave with them on a camping trip. You had to do it. Or you really wanted to watch a movie with your friends this weekend, but Gramma's sick and you have to visit her. Afterwards, you hear yourself saying, "I had no choice!"

But did you really have no choice? Quite the contrary - you have complete freedom to decide how to spend your time. You choose to obey your parents; you choose to do whatever it takes to keep your job; you choose to stay awake and study so you will pass your final exams... You weigh the options and think about what's really important and you choose what you think is best for your particular situation.

Tragedy

Before writing this post, I asked God to give me an example of what the world usually calls a tragedy.

Margaret Wilson died a violent death by drowning at age 18. Her life ended because she would not recant her faith in Jesus. *

Tragic?

A wasted life is a tragedy. But was Margaret Wilson’s life wasted?

John Piper writes, "I will tell you what a tragedy is. I will show you how to waste your life. Consider this story from the February 1998 Reader's Digest: A couple 'took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball and collect shells...' Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: 'Look, Lord. See my shells.' That is a tragedy." (Piper, Don't waste your life, 2003)

Is it evil to enjoy your life? A vague question, but the simplest answer is no. But is enjoying your life and having as good a time as possible while you're alive all there is to life? If it is so, the couple who retired early to a life of easy luxury would have been completely justified. If it is so. But it isn’t.

Life on earth is a journey away or towards God. In this life, we either decide to stand with God forever or to fall to hell without Him. If we live our lives for any other purpose than to seek God, find Him, glorify Him and point others to Him, no matter how accomplished we seem by worldly standards, we have lived in vain.