Resolving to always resolve

This time of year conversations tend to hit along the question of New Years resolutions.  My question is why only reassess things every 365 days and then make resolutions accordingly? 

There's certainly nothing wrong with making resolutions, especially if there is a good plan in place to make them reality. Simply wishing things were the case and good intentions won't make it so though.

So while you are coming up with resolutions, I commend this one to you: Resolve to always be resolving.  Along with that, review your resolutions frequently.

There's no time like the ever present present to resolve to live in a particular way.  A thought may come to you some random day of the week in February about how you would like to change... why wait til next December to take it to heart?  Go ahead and resolve then and begin acting on it. 

In my own life, I have begun the habit of always trying to keep my eyes and ears out for such things. Are there things I see, words I hear from others I find so especially profound or worthwhile I want to make them a part of my life? When I come upon such I file it away in a "resolutions" note in Evernote.  Then magically, things improve.

Just kidding. The second half to this is daily reviewing the resolutions, usually every morning, to remind myself what is most important to me and should be my hightest priorities and attitudes.  One of the ways our minds work is always keeping an eye out for things we are especially interested in, even to the detriment of missing other things sometimes.  If you buy a particular phone, you will probably soon notice how many others have the same model.  If you take up an interest in cardinals, you will likely start noticing many cardinals and even miss other birds.  Etc. etc. This is why reguarly reviewing goals and resolutions is important. It keeps them at the forefront of our mind and concerns. 

A few other tips from my own practice:
-when I write down the resolution I also add the date I added it along with the name of the person (if applicable) who was the source of the thought.  This is good because it is a regular reminder of who and how God has used others to grow me.

Here are a couple recent examples from my journal:
17.  You will let people down.  The measure of your sucess is the pleasure of God in you.  Pursue him and his Kingdom, not your reputation (C....) 12/16/11
18.  20% of the people in the field you are in will 80% of the work. Be in that group. Be the most effective person around at what you do. (F....) 12/20/11

Two rock solid daily reminders I want.  Only takes a minute to review and the impact likely tremendous.

What are the things you are resolving this year and how are you planning to take action on them?

You Were Born to Run - Book Review

" There's something so universal about the sensation, the way running unites our two most primal impulses: fear and pleasure. We run when we're scared, we run when we're ecstatic, we run away from our problems and run around for a good time."  So says Christopher McDougall, author of Born to Run.

This may have been the most entertaining and inspiring book I read all year.  In fact, soon after I finished I ran a half marathon barefoot, with very little barefoot experience prior.  Odds are this book  - many times while you are reading it - will inspire you to go out and run, maybe even in minimal or no footwear. 

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book.  Many people had asked me about it or recommended it since they knew I had an interest in barefoot and minimal footwear running.  Indeed I am. Interestingly, my journey there was not via this book. It was largely through doing my own research and talking to others who knew a bit about the activity.  So I finally read the book when a gracious friend allowed me to borrow it.  

I can hardly give a high recommendation.  You will learn about anatomy, human history, a hidden tribe in the Copper Canyon, and some pretty amazing (and crazy) characters who run ultra-marathons.  The book is a page turner from page one. McDougall begins with his original frustration of doctors telling him he couldn't run due to injuries.  Hence begins his quest to see if that was really true.  Incidentally, people can run hundreds of miles nonstop with very little or no footwear.  And it's our foot wear (and by extension posture and form) that happens to be causing all the running injuries you're hearing about.

A fascinating read. Do make an effort to put this on your lest and get a chapter a day. It'll be hard for you to do less than that. 

Primal Today

...But how do I feel and perform?  Absolutely amazing compared to my previous diet and habits.  My "get up and go" ability is at a level it's never been before: I was able to train for a half marathon barefoot 6 days in advance.  Never ever would have been able to do that before. 1 year ago, running 3 miles would be a struggle.  I haven't gone for a long run a week and a half, and I know if I were to get up and go right now I could easily do 7.  I also feel great. The "afternoon slump"/post-lunch yawning is now a thing of the past.  I wake up alert and ready to go.  Headaches are also a thing of the past. They were never a huge issue before, but ya notice when you go months without having one.  Much much more to say and learn and that will all be in forthcoming posts. 

The rest of my weekly post at the Primal Challenge is here.

What is Evangelism?

Continuing the series and my posts for TLI, I direct you to Missions 101 for my weekly post.

God's Smuggler - Book Review

At the recommendation of one of my friends I purchased and read "God's Smuggler," by Brother Andrew - his real name is not revealed due to the clandestine nature of his activities.  What a book!  It was good timing as well since I have recently gone into vocational missions.

Brother Andrew grew up in The Netherlands during the Second World War and the book starts when he was just a little boy during that time. As he grew older, the iron curtain fell on Europe and with it much spiritual darkness and famine.  Andrew took it upon himself to visit Christians and churches in the communist countries of Europe to bring greetings to them, encourage them, and bring them something very few had or had access to: Bibles.  Not too complicated at face value is it?  Well not until you add that bring in Bibles was illegal, holding a real church service (not simply a puppet church, bowing to the state), was illegal, Andrew was poor, etc. etc. The book is packed full of drama, amazing stories of God's provision for Andrew, his family and the Christians of the communist bloc.

I found I could identify with Brother Andrew.  While I haven't done anything clandestine yet, I have made a trip to an Islamic Republic (with a suitcase full of books no less!) and met with Christians there, some in secret, some in public.  Andrew had struggles as well. He wasn't perfect.  It sure would be disheartening to find that missionary role models had it all together!  But what an inspiration to trust the Lord. Reading Andrew's story opened my eyes to the need for more and more trust, and more and more prayer. 

I heartily recommend this book.  It's a short, easy read.  Definitely a page turner.  Not sure if buying it at full price is worth it though unless you plan to turn around and give it to others or sell it. 

Feature Essay on Lessons I've Learned

Hillsdale's Praxis club recently published an Alumni Spotlight essay I wrote for them. 

If I ever write a memoirs, it will be called “From Podunk to Poland to Pakistan”, so says, my friend Lawrence Reed.  I’m from Parma, Michigan – 40 minutes north of Hillsdale, also in the middle of a cornfield. At Hillsdale I was an average student, or at least not exceptional grade-wise.  That always bugged me, but frankly, other things were more important (a bonus lesson: truly know what your priorities are in life).

read the rest here.

Songs for the Season - Once in Royal David's City

The words are beautiful to the mind, when sung by a boy choir like here it is beautiful to the heart.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone.  God Bless you all.

Songs for the Season - Come thou long expected Jesus

This is a great hymn and in my opinion, this rendition is fantastic.  I can hardly listen to it enough.  Enjoy!

Consider switching to a stand up desk

During the summer, somewhere around I remember hearing about the wonders of the stand-up desk.  I decided I ought to try it for myself so I placed my computer desk (pictured) on top of two milk crates.  Shaky, but it worked.  Since then I constructed a wooden box to set it on top of. Not shaky at all. Additionally, now I have some extra storage space beneath the desk.

Behind where I stand (desk with the candle) is my "sit down desk".  No electronics are allowed there. It is purely for reading, handwriting, study, and sometimes eating. 

Why the stand-up desk? 
-When I sit I tend to slouch. This puts me in a state of laziness and sluggishness. 
-Standing keeps me alert
-It helps me constantly work on my posture
-It keeps me focused. I rarely drift off, daydreaming, or feeling dull.
-I figure it's good for my feet and calves as well to keep them active all day like this.

This luxury isn't everywhere but you may be surprised. Next time you're in a starbucks look around for a table or counter that is at the right height and there ya go. A stand up desk made for you on the go!

There are other reasons to do so as well and here are some links to some handy articles on that.  Fascinating history and science here:

Become a Stand-Up Guy: The History, Benefits, and Use of Standing Desks - The art of manliness

Sitting is Unhealthy (and what to do about it) - MDA

Standing at Work - MDA

Someday I would like to build my own Churchill Desk but that may be awhile...

Introduced to Primal

It's all thanks to Bob Ewing and Antonie Hodge that I have a new interest and enjoyment in primal living.  I tell about that here at the Primal Challenge

The Priority of Evangelism

Jesus' last recorded words on earth were to followers, and they were a command to spread the good news.

     "And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:18-20 ESV)

     "He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
(Acts 1:7-8 ESV)

.....  On the TLI blog, my series on Evangelism continues here.

The anticipation of giving

All the gift shopping I did this year was a blast. It was fun brainstorming about what to get everyone, how to surprise them and get something super cool.  Now I'm really looking forward to Christmas because they get to receive the gift, and I will get to see/hear their reaction of enjoyment.

So it is with God, who was eager to share the gift of his Son with fallen man.  Even the angelic realm, when he was born couldn't help but proclaim in the skies, "Glory to God in the highest..."

There was no greater need that man had than for a savior. God gives us all that and more.

Think about that for a few moments - God delights to give you Himself.  

Gratitude is a choice not an emotion

Deep down I probably knew that twenty years ago while choosing ingratitude and insisting it was an emotion....

Every Friday morning I attend a superb Bible study in Buckhead.  About 30 men from the area gather before the workday to hear from Ken Boa and discuss. Right now we are working through Philippians. 

Here are some notes from a couple weeks ago. The passage we looked at quoted below.

    Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
    Do all things without grumbling or disputing,
(Philippians 2:12-14 ESV)

A passage long puzzling to me, at least explained!  Note that it says work out your salvation, not work for.  The salvation is already there, we simply live it out.

Ken recommended three couplets to contemplate first thing in the morning upon waking up:

Love & Gratitude
Surrender & Dependence
Trust & Obey

(I've found that this is helpful.  Don't worry about using someone else's...just find your own prayer to be the first breaths out of your waking body in the morning.  Mine is often "God, be thou my guide.")

You can't contribute anything to the work of God, but you can participate.  Note Esther 4:13. Even if Esther would not have stood up, God would have raised another up for the salvation of his people.

Early Friday morning is a nice time to think about doing all things without grumbling or complaining, but what about Monday morning?  "Gratitude is a choice not an emotion."

Unfortunately, we tend to focus far more on our supposed deficiencies than our sufficiency, thinking about what we don't have, rather than what we do have.

Previous to these verses Paul speaks on the importance of humility. Here is a recipe for it - focusing on God's sufficiency for us, never grumbling or complaining.  The great crime of grumbling is that it denies the sovereignty of God.  Reference Numbers 16 and I Corinthians 10 for some extended story and explanation of Israel's experience with this.

A question to take with you throughout the day - "Do you view God's character in terms of your circumstance or do you view your circumstances in terms of God's character?"

The first three fruits of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, are also the three subjects of our Lord's words in the upper room discourse the night of his betrayal.

Next week Ken will be giving a presentation titled "Christmas: Past, Present, and Future".

Faith to Sight

Last weekend a friend's family came over for dinner. I knew this man well as we had been in the same Discipleship group at church. I had not, however, seen or met his family yet. 

The highlight was meeting the latest addition to the family, 11 month old Katie.  There was nothing all that special about her....only saw her for a few minutes (I got to sit at the grown-up table!). 

Here's what moved me - a year ago I had prayed for her.  Before she was born,  my friend asked the group for prayer, and of course, when she was born he announced the birth and we prayed and praised some more. 

And then, eleven months later, Ah! There she is! crawling about and smiling. "You whom I never saw, but prayed for, there you are!"  

So it will be for us in Heaven.  Though the joy there will be at an extraordinary intensity.  We will finally see Jesus. We will finally see people we prayed for yet never saw.  We will see healing we prayed for but never saw.

All I want for Christmas...

This time of year a few people tend to ask me what I want for Christmas or for my "Christmas list".  It was especially tough this year figuring out what to say.  Put frankly, I really don't need anything.  All my basic needs are more than covered.  I don't need any more books; I am just giving books away and selling them at this point. I also don't need trinkets or clutter. 

Two big eye opening times for me were my trip to Pakistan last year and my lengthy road trip this year. In Pakistan I saw how the materially poor really had most their needs met and were content.   (I suppose "need" is relative.  They didn't even have running water, and wished their well hadn't have dried up.  But they were content all the same.  Because they really enjoyed more endearing things like family, and their Faith.)  On my road trip this year I found that I really don't need all that much to enjoy life...I had a suitcase, two backpacks and a briefcase. Materially, I had some clothes, some books, electronics, and office supplies. 

Things that would be "nice-to-haves" are simply going to take time and not material for a Christmas list...a new car would be far superior and lost longer than my Taurus.  But it's not like I need it. The car is fine, and God will provide in due time.  But seriously...everything else is covered, or I see it being taken care of by God. 

So the real gifts that are starting to matter to me more are:
-Those can't simply be bought and handed over.
-The kind that aren't asked for. Someone happens to know me well enough that they know exactly what would be a good gift and give it.
-The intangibles that often take time, like better relationships with family and friends.
-To be fully supported for ministry.
-My own attitudinal perspectives on life and correct priorities every minute and hour.
-There are tremendous needs faced by people outside the States, materially, physically, and spiritually. Give to them.  Odds are, a small gift to them will benefit the world far more than a large gift to me.  The influence of our country is waning in more ways than one. And if you want to leave a lasting influence, one of the best ways to do that is to strategically reach leaders overseas.

So what about giving? I challenge you (a little late, probably!) to try getting gifts for folks without asking them what they'd like.  Get to know someone such that you don't need a prescription from them as to what they'd like.

Who have you encouraged today?

Typically, my answer to this question would be "no one", with maybe some self-justification added on the end.

6 months ago was a very dark time for me.  As I was just cleaning a desk top when some books fell I saw a card an Aunt had sent me during that time.  I opened the card to read it again. Still encouraging and thoughtful just as it was earlier this year.  And then I realized that you know never what it could mean to someone to send them a thoughtful note. 

You never know someone's entire story (unless you're terribly close to them), their big life story or even just the story of their day.  Popping a note their way could be the high point of an already good day, and it could be the bright point of a dark week. 

Snail mail is best I suppose since that isn't "archived" into the google cyberworld.  Now my aunt's card is taped at eye level to my left in my office.  Always there, always reminding me to, as it says, "Rejoice and be glad in the day the Lord has made." 

What are some of your creative ways to touch someone?

Eating cheaply and healthy is impossible

Wrong.  Click here to learn about my own experiment to prove this was wrong, spending 60 dollars a month on groceries, avoiding all processed foods.

Missions 101 - Training Leaders International's blog

Starting today, every Wednesday, into the unforeseeable future I will be blogging for the mission agency I work with, Training Leaders International.

The first few months will be a series on evangelism based on an outline from a teacher at the place I attended church in Midland, Michigan.  I'll be linking there from here every Wednesday.  Feel free to provide me your feedback or thoughts on different things you'd like to see on the Missions 101 blog, and what you'd like to see me write on in particular.


Here's the introductory, first post.

The Focused Compassion of Jesus

A friend of mine writes:

when Jesus “saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” We all daily walk through crowds of people and blend into the masses. We drive home in traffic with thousands of other people and often even at our mega-churches, we can walk into the sanctuary and get lost. But, even when we feel the most alone, Jesus tells us in his word that He sees us! He sees that we are lost. He sees that we are confused. He sees that we need a shepherd to guide and protect and love us. Jesus not only sees us, but he responds. His response is compassion! Jesus understands that we need to be loved and pursued and so he sees us through our crowed and hurried lives, shows compassion on us, and pursues us through all the mess!

This is one of the most valuable things to remember, as the Psalmist says, "goodness and mercy will follow him all the days of his life."  Goodness and mercy isn't just following a group of people, it is following him, a specific person.  I am reminded of when Jesus healed the lame man at the pool of Bethesda.  Piper says of that here:

Jesus chooses to go to this pool. He did not have to. It didn’t sneak up on him. He didn’t stumble by. He knew what he was doing. He was going to this pool the same way he went to Samaria to find the woman at the well, and the same way he went to sign-seeking, prophet-dishonoring Galilee to find a kingly official who had a sick son. Jesus moves toward need, not comfort. Toward brokenhearted sinners, not the self-righteous.

“When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time.” Jesus knew this man’s situation without having to be told. Thirty-eight years he had been paralyzed and unable to walk, and perhaps all of that time he had been brought here to the pool to wait—ever-hoping for some kind of miracle. Jesus knew his situation. When you know Jesus, this is the kind of person you know. A person who knows you perfectly—knows everything about you, inside and out, and all you have ever felt or thought or done.

 With an entire multitude of people there, Jesus could have just by a word or thought made all well with them.  Didn't even have to go there. He could have done it from afar.  That's not how he works though. Out of the multitude, he found one to pour compassion on.  In all our efforts to do good in the world on a grand scale, let us not forget our focus on individuals, pursuing people, treating them as individuals and souls not as groups or a stereoptype

To be tempted is to suffer

I've never thought of temptation as suffering before.  When I don't get my way, or others don't see things my way, that's suffering!

Hebrews 2:18 - For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

To be tempted is indeed to suffer. The question is do we buckle under the suffering or keep fighting through the power of the Spirit?  Jesus, the creator of the universe and you, is able to help you when you are tempted.  He experienced it as well, far far more than you have or will.

A Treasure to seek; a Guide to follow

Psalm 119 is probably the most famous chapter in the Bible. It may almost be the least read and understood.  While memorizing a portion of it right now it strikes me that this is much more than repetition and "just about God's word".  Note the emotions and action words:

Seek, store, declare, delight, meditate, fix eyes, delight, (not) forget.

Clearly not a seven eleven praise song. The psalm is rich with desires from the heart and demonstrates a life that unequivally follows a single guide. 

God is Good not simply in what he does for us materially but in that he gives us himself and his Word.  The Word of God can be delighted as much as in all riches! Wow! 

This is a good plumb line to measure my desires and longings up against.  Do I delight in all God's word?  Do I declare it? Do I long to be taught the word and store it in my heart?

   With my whole heart I seek you;
        let me not wander from your commandments!
    I have stored up your word in my heart,
        that I might not sin against you.
    Blessed are you, O LORD;
        teach me your statutes!
    With my lips I declare
        all the rules of your mouth.
    In the way of your testimonies I delight
        as much as in all riches.
    I will meditate on your precepts
        and fix my eyes on your ways.
    I will delight in your statutes;
        I will not forget your word.

Opposites of Love

In class we've talked about the opposites of love.  I've found that it can be easier seeing where I am amiss by looking at the way things shouldn't be than by the way things should be.  Sure, I can read I Cor. 13. Sounds good, I generally strive for that...  But then, examining the opposites of something, my eyes are opened better at how far I have to go.

Hatred - Hate dislikes someone greatly and has an aversion towards them. It abhors and detests someone and has a fiendish delight at their failure, humiliation, pain or loss.  Hate demeans people, makes fun of them, calls them names and never acknowledges any good in them or from them.

Lust - "Lust inevitably leads to more emptiness and self consuming despair.  It may be directed toward a person, a position or a state of mind." -Dan Allender  Lust is self-serving not serving, and taking and having not giving.

Selfishness - "Whoever has the world's goods and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him (or does not help), how dose the love of God abide in him?" (I John 3:17)

Apathy and Indifference - This could regard others who are oppressed or suffering injustice or, it could involve someone not suffering from either of those, be we are simply just apathetic or indifferent towards them.  This is convicting for me especially as I think about who I actually pray for (assuming I pray for those I care about).

Again, I should emphasize that I write these things not as an expert or someone experienced but someone who is learning from mistakes and learning with others.

If love is to be the defining characteristic of a Christian, then the question to ask is "Do others see that in your character?"

How to Feast Continually

This post has been a long time in coming. Strangely, the past two or three times  I tried writing it, it would either get lost in cyberspace or the writing would just vanish.  A friend of mine, Abby Hummel, has a blog I recommend checking out: A Cheerful Heart has a Continual Feast

She bases the title on the verse from Proverbs:
    All the days of the afflicted are evil,
        but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
(Proverbs 15:15 ESV)

(Also, note two verses prior: "A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.")


It's like Thanksgiving all the time!  There's a vicious cycle to tap into I think.  The cheerful heart is cheerful because it realizes that it already has a continual before it.  This is not to say life is easy or things should just always work out.  To really make the point, put all physical things aside and think alone of your spiritual blessings, who you are in Christ, what he has done for you, how God is leading you, what he is teaching you, what you see of him in nature, etc.  That alone is feasting! If you want dessert you can think of all the extras - good relationships, food, shelter, and so on...  So the one who realizes that there is already a feast before him, he is cheerful and thus to him, he is living a perpetual feast!

Conversely, note the afflicted. They too are in a vicious cycle. All they notice and saturate themselves in is evil.  So they live lives of affliction, whether they know it or not.  "the weather is lame", "my team lost", "I have a poor job", "I wish I had this or that" and on it goes, feasting on everything they don't have, forgetting the feast available to them.

-----------------
Addendum:

Derek Kidner says of this passage:

If verse 13 shows that our prevailing attitude colors our whole personality this saying makes it also color our whole experience. Cf. Gen 47:9 with 2 Timothy 4:6-8; or Ruth 1:20-21 with Habakkuk 3:17-18.

Clearly he's more concise than I am.  Do check out those cross references. I'll always remember my Uncle Steve for directing me to Kidner. Such an astute thinker and treasurer of the Word.

The government lies and real food is good

I have a coworker two years ago to thank in regards to opening my eyes about my diet.  I had never paid much attention to it before. I tried to eat "healthy".  But there wasn't much rhyme or reason to it.  I am not even sure how we got to talking about this stuff.  Part of why I was so open to it because I tend to be skeptical of most everything the government says anyway.  So if the government says we must have fluoride in our water or that such and such is the food pyramid, well, I instantly don't trust it.  Why?  Because there's lots and lotsa money behind what the government says and does. And we know where there's lots and lotsa money there is seldom honesty. 

....Check out the rest at The Primal Challenge.

The benefits of journaling

A couple months ago I began keeping a regular journal. It doesn't look like your typical journal, and you would probably think I'm crazy if you saw it (involves an excel document and a few notes in evernote).  Yet it works, and it didn't start complicated, it started simple and evolved to what it is now. 

I've tried a few times before over the years and it never caught on. Then in July a coworker recommended it and I started thinking more seriously about it. So I journaled for a few scattered days, at the end of the day, and mainly wrote in prose.  Didn't really catch on though. 

My journal now tracks certain things that I want to do throughout the day, from the mundane like brushing, to something more substantive, like my top five priorities for the day (and what got done), to what I read, how I procrastinated, if I worked on any memorization, etc.

So here are some benefits of journaling that I have found:

1.  It keeps me accountable to myself.  I can no longer just live each day as it comes. Now I am living each day more purposefully, knowing at the beginning and end of each day, I am going to make an honest account of it.

2.  I am able to track what I am actually getting done and not getting done.  This keeps my view of the past more realistic and my expectations of what I can and will do more realistic as well.

3.  I want to know what works and doesn't work.  When I get in a funk, I'm able to look at the journal and see why.

4.  It is a record of God's faithfulness and provision to me.  Later, be it days, weeks, or years, I can look back and see where He has brought me, and how.

5.  I want to be able to remember when key things happened.  If it is written down, umpteen years from now I can find it. 

6.  It helps me start the day off right, by journaling a bit in the morning and setting expectations for the day.  And it's been a good way to unwind at the end of the day, reviewing what happened, my thoughts, and feelings. 

I will write more about what I actually journal or track later.  Do you journal? if so, how do you do it and why?

Why I Blog

You may have noticed that I blogged sporadically the past few years but recently have written nearly every day for the past couple months.  While that hasn't been on accident, it hasn't really been on purpose either.

-This is a way for me to share things with others, whether they be people I know or don't know.

-Keeping a public "journal" like this forces me to regularly try coming up with something original or otherwise worthwhile to pass on.  What am I doing - reading, learning, thinking, etc - if I can't even come up with something worth remarking on to others?

-Writing helps me articulate my thoughts, which, if left unwritten, remain unarticulated and not thought through well. 





-To share.  We all, be it through book knowledge or life experience learn things. Why be a "dead end"?  Go ahead and share what you are learning about something with others.  Chances are they will learn, they will be encouraged, you will be sharpened, etc.  Even if only a couple folks read per day, I figure that's a couple people who take the time out of their full schedules to spend with what I've shared.

Why do you read my blog or what do you like about it?

What is Love?

A couple weeks ago in class we started discuss how Jesus loves us and how we can imitate.  One of the things I found convicting and enlightening was that love (or lack thereof) shows up in the small stuff. 
Providing for a family, taking care of things around the home...these are big things for sure and usually done out of love. But it's usually the small stuff that really demonstrate love to one another and the world. Take a look at I Corinthians 13 and think about how it really does boil down to small stuff here:

    Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Matthew Henry says of this:

Love is not jealous but rejoices with the good fortune of others.  Love is courteous and is quick to express gratitude to those who are kind to us (and especially to family members).  Love has a large heart and an open hand. Love does not brag and it is not arrogant and it subdues pride and self-glory.  Love does not act unbecomingly and is careful not to pass the bounds of decency or do anything out of place....Love calms angry passions instead of stirring them up and it is not cross contrary or spiteful....

From our study book:

Most of these acts or attitudes used to describe or define love are "little things," especially in light of the "great" things mentioned in the proceeding verses that are meaningless without love (having all faith, giving away possessions, having knowledge, prophetic speaking). True love is evident in the little things we do like showing respect, kindness, patience, courtesy and small acts of service.  If we are not faithful in the little things, then the big things don't mean a whole lot.  That's how we know the big things we do are done in love; they are accompanied by faithfulness in the daily little things.

Fear, Unbelief, Doubt. FUD

Last week a friend shared an incredible insight with me in conversation:

Every single decision you make (large or small) is based on either Grace and Truth, or fear, unbelief, and doubt (FUD).  


This means with virtually every minute of our lives, with every relationship, every task, project, meal, and so on we have opportunities to act out of Grace and Truth and glorify God.  Conversely, we are also perpetually tempted to do otherwise. We believe lies from the enemy, the world, our own selves.  "Did God really say....?",  "But God doesn't mean that", "But what will happen if you do this or don't do that?", "Imagine what could happen if you do....".  etc. etc.

I remember an exhortation from John Piper where he encouraged his listeners to be in the Word as much as possible, to absolutely get saturated in it. Why? Because the vast majorities of our decisions we hardly give a thought to.  We just live, act and do things.  There are a few things that we really think about and decide.  So for all those seemingly "automatic" decisions it's best to have as much Bible saturation as possible so that that is what your heart and mind are running off of rather than just what you feel like at any given moment or the lies we believe.

How does Satan scheme against you?

Most often, Satan doesn’t work in our lives by out-muscling us, twisting our arms, or beating us into submission.
He outwits us.
In our modern culture, I think some of Satan’s primary tools are busyness and a general “cooling off” towards spiritual matters.
Satan won’t convince you that reading your bible is bad – just that you don’t have time for it today. He won’t tell you prayer is ineffective – just that you’ll have more time to get around to it tomorrow.
Perhaps it’s serving in the church. Maybe it’s being involved in your family. It could be taking care of your health.
Satan doesn’t need to kill you to take you out of the battle. He just needs to keep you going through the motions.

Great post by Loren Pinilis here.

The enemies of gratitude

Last Sunday at church Randy Pope taught on 5 enemies of Thanksgiving.  Be based this on I Corinthians 10:6-11 and Numbers 16 (grumbling Israel). I will not trace all the scriptures but here is the basic outline.

It should be noted that all these things are very close cousins of abundant material blessings such as we have much of in the United States. 

1. Greed - Ingratitude for God's provision (my note: ironic how on Thanksgiving we celebrate God's provision then the very next day go out and spend as if we have nothing at all....)

2. Idolatry - Ingratitude for the all-sufficiency of God alone.  I could say the same thing here regarding Black Friday.  The iPhone4s and big screen tv won't ultimately satisfy us...beware making things idols such that we must have them to be content.

3.  Immorality - Ingratitude for the standards God has given us. (Here Randy commented that we would be staggered if we knew how many in Perimeter Church were involved in sexual immorality, be that pornography, fornication, or adultery. Absolutely staggered. And that is just one sin alone).

4.  Impatience - Ingratitude for God's guidance.

5. Grumbling (against leadership) - ingratitude for God's (spiritual) leaders he's given us. 

Poetry Reading that will Mesmorize You.

18 minutes seems kinda long but it is worth every second.  Try to carve out the time to watch this to the very end.

A God-Centered Theology has to be a Missionary Theology

A clip by John Piper:


Some good quotes:

“The unwasted life is the life that puts Christ on display as supremely valuable.”
“A God-centered theology has to be a missionary theology.”
“The need of the nations who do not know the name of Jesus is an immeasurable need. It is an infinite need.”
“2.6 billion people live in unreached people groups.”

H/T: Matt Perman

Susanna Wesley defines sin

"Take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off your relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself."
   -- Susanna Wesley (Letter, June 8, 1725)

Hoping in God and the Story of Joseph

When reading a story I find it's often hard to fully comprehend or understand the emotions in it largely because the time it takes me to read or hear it is so much shorter than the actual time that passed in the story. 

I didn't realize til today the the length of time that passed for Joseph after he was sold into slavery.  Joseph was sold at 17 years old.  At some point after that he was falsely accused of rape and then thrown into prison for at least two years.  At 30 years old Joseph becomes the prime minister of Egypt.  He got married and had two kids; the seven years of plenty followed by the seven years of famine. So Joseph was around 40 years old - 23 years after this trajectory started for him when he was thrown into a pit - when he could then see God's purpose in his affliction and he was reunited with his family.  23 years!  In all those years Joseph never questioned God but was always faithful to him. 

Wow, and sometimes I can hardly wait a day or a week!