Year: 2013

  • Moving Beyond Routine, Rote, and Obligations to Find Delight in God

    summer joy

    I’ve continued to ponder the John Piper sermon I wrote about and his signature catchphrase “God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in him.” As I indicated in my post, this strikes me as true. As I’ve read the Scriptures this past week, I’ve seen this confirmed in the text. I’m thinking of Psalms like this one:

    Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore,

    “Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servant!” (Psalm 35:27, ESV)

    We delight in God when we point to his great delight in us!

    We love God when we praise his great love for us.

    John Piper talked about how duty and commitment, while perhaps the beginning and often the glue of love, are not enough for a relationship to flourish. In fact, one is most satisfied in a relationship when there is a deep affection for the other person that is most pleased in their joy.

    As I listened to Piper preach at the conference and then again via the recording later, I thought to myself, I want to be that passionate about Jesus. I want to be honestly satisfied in him more than I am now.

    Okay, but what does this look like, practically? Is there more to this idea than simply offering lip service to God’s faithfulness? What does it mean to delight in the Lord? Here are three things that come to mind as I meditate on how to delight in God. Read More “Moving Beyond Routine, Rote, and Obligations to Find Delight in God”

  • Why I Still Call Myself an Evangelical

    Evangelicalism is quickly going the way of fundamentalism as far as being a useful term.

    Although fundamentalism hasn’t always meant “religious person that hates others” it’s practically a lost cause to recover its original intent at this point…and I see the same thing happening with Evangelicalism.
    Jesus Saves - Chicago, IL
    This is unfortunate, not only because Evangelicalism has historically distanced itself from fundamentalism as a movement (even before the term became corrupted), but it has its own rich history and distinctives–some of which are well worth preserving. Read More “Why I Still Call Myself an Evangelical”

  • Don't Shortchange the Holy Spirit When It Comes to Holiness

    I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of holiness. What it means to be set apart for God, for the new creation to begin.

    It seems to me that many Christians basically act as if the new creation has really started yet. That although they are forgiven for their mistakes and are going to heaven, now they play a passive waiting game for Jesus to come back. There is sometimes as sense of powerlessness, that holiness is an ideal that will never be fully accomplished in this life, and so…why even try? Read More “Don't Shortchange the Holy Spirit When It Comes to Holiness”

  • Did God Create Me to Use Me or Love Me? John Piper on Being Made in the Image of God

    John-Piper-10-744844

    I recently got to hear John Piper preach at the Catalyst Atlanta conference.

    Although I have my differences with Piper on theology and practice, I have to admit this was one of the most powerful sermons I have ever listened to in person. His passion for Jesus is nothing less than inspiring and infectious.

    The theme of conference was “Known” and so Pastor John spoke to us on the fundamental identity of human beings as being made in the image of God. He pointed out that many speculate on what it means to be made in God’s image. Some say it is humanity’s capacity for love or relationships, or that it means we reflect some other aspect of God’s character.

    Piper says this is missing the common-sense meaning of what an “image” is and does. Fundamentally, an image draws attention to what it is “imaging.” A statue, for instance, draws attention to the person or object it is a statue of. Even abstract works of art point beyond themselves to something deeper.

    Therefore, as beings made in the image of God, we are to draw attention to him; this is called giving God glory.

    But, Pastor John admits, this seems to pose a problem. What do we do with the megalomania that God seems to demonstrate by erecting 7 billion+ statues of himself on the planet? Isn’t this abuse? Isn’t God just using me?

    Far from it. We are created in such a way that we actually experience the greatest pleasure, happiness, and perfection when we are in genuine fellowship with God, and witness to God’s surpassing greatness in every area of our lives to others.

    We point to God not out of a sense of coercion but because we genuinely enjoy and delight in him! So his glory and our good are built to intersect. This is where’s Piper’s famous catchphrase starts to make sense, even to this non-Calvinist:

    “God is most glorified when I am most satisfied in him.”

    It’s tough for me to do this profound concept justice, but I think I’m convinced that it is what the Bible teaches.

    You should really listen to the sermon for yourself.

  • Cultivate Your Mind: How Memorizing Bible Verses Can Give You Clarity of Thought

    A cultivated mind is one that is well-tended, nourished, disciplined, and flourishing. How do we cultivate our minds? By taking in ideas, actually thinking through them, solving problems, etc. We “work out” our minds. For the Christian, a cultivated mind is also one that has been carefully grown to have increased sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and see the world as the Divine sees the world. Read More “Cultivate Your Mind: How Memorizing Bible Verses Can Give You Clarity of Thought”

  • Rhythm & Blues: Why I Pray the Daily Office

    Few things have had as much impact on my life as the discipline of praying the Daily Office, a cycle of morning and evening prayer in the Anglican tradition.

    This is because it’s given me a steady structure and emotionally honest framework for prayer.

    Rhythm

    I can say in all honesty that most days, I love to pray. I am astounded often that the creator of the universe is with me and ready to listen, and desires for me to listen to him as well. I try to cultivate an attitude of gratefulness for the truly wonderful gifts he’s given me: forgiveness, hope, life, the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, though, I don’t feel like praying.

    I’m busy, tired, whatever. This is when having a plan helps: set prayers, regular time of day, and Bible readings all picked out.

    Discipline begets discipline, so I notice when I’m faithful in the Office it’s easier to control my body, my thoughts, and emotions. I find I sin less for the simple fact that I know I’m going to meet with God in just few hours for confession. I know we will have to talk about what I did and/or thought about doing today.

    When things seem to get out of control, when life is crazy, stressful and days seem dim, the Office becomes (by virtue of the Scriptures and ancient prayers it presents) a brighter spot and a source of comfort. When you pray the Office, you know you are not alone. My whispered prayers are joined by millions of others the world over, contemplating the same texts, breathing the same pleas for mercy, thanking the same God for the means of grace.

    Blues

    The Daily Office gave me the gift of the Psalms. All of them. When you pray the Office, you pray the happy, inspiring ones about God’s love and faithfulness alongside the ones that ask God hard questions, like “How long will you judge unjustly / and show partiality to the wicked?” (Psalm 82). You pray the ones that are brutally honest about fervent desires for justice to be done:

    O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed,

    blessed shall he be who repays you

    with what you have done to us!

    Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones

    and dashes them against the rock!

    These are heartbreaking, violent, and often confusing words for all of us. Yet these Psalms give us permission and a path to bring all of ourselves–even and especially the angry, doubting and dark places–into the context of God’s faithfulness. After all, the Psalter is also a retelling of the whole Biblical narrative, including Christ, if we know where and how to look.

    I don’t have all the answers yet, but after about five times through the Psalter so far this year I’ve gained some peace through these poems. I’ve begun to understand what it means to honestly long for God’s justice without succumbing to the temptation to exact revenge for myself. I’ve begun to learn how to pray to God even when I might be angry with him. God is big. He can take our questions and our frustration and even our possibly less-than-pure motives and by grace enable us to “walk in the light of life” (Psalm 56:13).

    Rhythm and blues. That’s why I pray the Daily Office.

  • Prayer: The Pathway to Peace

    Yosemite National ParkAs the Fall season hits full-swing, tiredness and burnout can appear more swiftly than we think. It is vital remember that in this state your ministry will probably suffer. It is very difficult to give out of a place of spiritual, physical, or emotional emptiness, much less have inner peace. 

    A fairly recent discovery for me has been the realization that stress is simply a form a fear. Stress comes when we wonder “what will happen if?” What will happen if I get sick, if my vacation doesn’t go how I planned, what if I have family conflict, what if I can’t accomplish everything I would like to accomplish at work and at home today, or tomorrow, or this week, or this month.

    The thing is, Christians aren’t meant to be living in fear of what could happen.

    Jesus says,

    “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness… do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. ” (Matthew 6:33-34 ESV)

    Peter said that it is okay for us to cast all of our cares on God, because he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). It is interesting that at the start of this verse Peter tells us part of doing this is humbling ourselves. It isn’t easy to let go and let someone else take the reins, but we have to. We have to realize that God is one doing the work through us. Our job is to be really, truly, submitting to him.

    One of my favorite passages of all time is from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. The Apostle wrote,

    “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV).

    A vital part of how we find peace in the midst of all the stress (which remember is really fear) is–unquestionably–prayer to God. This is where we worship God, where we ask him for the desires of our hearts, and most of all where we request to know and follow his will, not ours. God is faithful to meet us in prayer, and it is in him we find peace.

    I encourage you to stay grounded in prayer to God each day as the foundation not only for your ministry (whether it be vocational or otherwise), but for your walk with Christ in general.

    Less fear is nothing other than more trust in Christ to be all that you need.

  • Mentor Like Jesus, Change the World

    In Mentor Like Jesus, entrepreneur and investor Regi Campbell has set out to encourage a generation of men to invest in others. This is both a theological/philosophical argument for the merits of a mentoring approach to helping to people follow Jesus, and a practical look at how to do that with intentionality and precision. Campbell writes,

    Mentoring isn’t about coming to know something; that would be education. Mentoring isn’t about learning to do something; that would be training. Mentoring is about showing someone how to be something. (emphasis mine). Read More “Mentor Like Jesus, Change the World”

  • This One Simple Practice Changed My Life

    It’s only been in the last twelve months or so that I’ve realized the power of physical discipline for taking my spiritual discipline to the next level.

    beforeafter
    It should be obvious, yet for me it hasn’t been. Discipline the body, discipline the mind.

    Discipline the mind, and you’ve taken the first step toward success in many of the twelve spiritual disciplines.

    St. Paul said,

    But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:27, ESV)

    Because physical discipline yields tangible results, we begin to better understand discipline in general, and can apply that knowledge to the spiritual realm. I recently starting exercising on a regular basis, and I’ve learned:

    • It takes less time than you think to start seeing the fruit of discipline, but more time than you think to completely uproot bad habits.
    • Start slow, don’t bite off more than you can chew.
    • Community is essential for my success in being a disciplined person.
    • Being willing to learn from people wiser than myself is a non-negotiable.
    • Just showing up is half the battle.

    Look, this guy:

    Me, a couple years ago. Me, a couple of years ago.

    and this guy:

    Me, a couple weeks ago Me, a couple of weeks ago

    are two completely different people, physically and spiritually.

    How do we become healthier physically, sharper mentally, and deeper spiritually? By disciplining the body, mind, and spirit.

    By God’s grace I’m both the most physically and spiritually disciplined I’ve ever been. The two are much more intertwined than we’d often like to admit.

  • Not Light But Fire: Confronted with Spirit & Truth

    It was quiet outside the small, cylindrical building. Vividly green desert plants lined the bottom of the cement wall. Bright Arizona sun glinted off of embossed metal letters around the wooden door.

    NOT LIGHT BUT FIRE

    DARKNESS NOT CLARITY

    PRAYER NOT READING

    ASK

    It was my first stop of the day. Not entirely sure what to expect, I breathed deeply, pulled on the door handle and entered. Read More “Not Light But Fire: Confronted with Spirit & Truth”