Monday, December 28, 2009

Just some thoughts from Amy Carmichael…

Now that the Christmas rush is over, I feel like I can finally start the vacation part of my Christmas vacation! I'm back into reading A Chance to Die, Elisabeth Elliot's biography of Amy Carmichael. I love how Amy Carmichael refused to dress the gospel up with gimmicks or special presentations—she wanted the gospel to be preached and JUST the gospel!

"Saral [an Indian woman who became Amy's helper] came one day with an idea for drawing the women to hear the Gospel. She would teach them to knit with some pink wool she had been given, 'and they will love me more and like to listen when I talk about Jesus.'

"Amy could not say yes to that. She explained that the Gospel needed no such frills. It is the power of God for salvation. Saral protested that there was nothing in the Bible which bore upon pink wool and knitting needles. Indeed there was—Zechariah 4:6, 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.' There was no need for tricks which might open houses—houses were open. No need for methods of helping to humanize and fill bare and empty lives—'these women have a full day's work.' To try to help God with pink fancywork was, she felt, plain unbelief." (pg 126)

Yet Amy also did everything in her power to become completely Indian, insofar as it was not sinful. She studied and learned the language, she wore Indian clothing, and longed to live among the people, rather than removed from them in missionary houses that were overtly English and well-to-do (I'm still in the earlier years of her ministry). I love that Amy made this distinction and how she stuck with it, even when no one else around her carried these same convictions.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Sovereignty of God in Pain & Suffering

These photos from The Boston Globe's "Big Picture" section broke my heart. It's times like these when it would be so easy to shun God. It's human nature to see these horrendous pictures and automatically question, "WHY, GOD, WHY?!" in essence demanding an answer from the Creator of the heavens and earth. I'm not trying to diminish the pain and suffering these individuals and their families are going through—they are absolutely suffering, in a greater way than I have ever experienced. But the question that arises is: "Is God sovereign or good?" thus making individuals choose between the two, as if they are mutually exclusive options.

I am certainly not the first to propose this, and I know I will not be the last, but the right question to ask is, "Can it be shown that God is both wholly good and absolutely sovereign?" I firmly believe with all my being that the answer is a resounding "YES!" But before I attempt to spew out everything I've been learning going through the Desiring God National Conference, 2005; James with my Bible study methods class; my discipleship counseling class; and the Old Testament with my Old Testament survey class, I need to (1) finish my homework [lol] and (2) think of a structured, concise, and compelling way to answer this question, both for my own heart and anyone else out there listening to my ramblings J

However, for those who absolutely cannot wait, a few great places to start searching would be:


 

My goal is to blog at least once short post per week on this subject… whether that goal is realized or attained is another matter entirely.


 

PS—if you haven't looked at the "Big Picture" link mentioned above, you really ought to. They will set you thinking!

Monday, September 14, 2009

“What Does It Mean?” vs. “What Does It Mean to Me?”

"...In many situations, however, it is extremely important that we search for the author's meaning because of serious negative consequences that will come if we misunderstand or intentionally ignore the meaning the author intended. For example, one of the most common literary texts in America is the big word STOP painted on the red octagonal signs at many street intersections across the country. If you choose to, you can follow a reader response approach and interpret the text to mean: 'slow down just a bit, look for cars, and then speed on through the intersection.' The police, however, believe strongly in authorial intent for the determination of meaning, so they will respond to your interpretation with a traffic ticket and a fine."

Lol.

So it seems that our culture is not as postmodern in its practice as it is in its thinking. That's somewhat encouraging…

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Seasoned with Salt

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

I have always (I think) admired the sort of people that can easily and instantly turn a silly or frivolous conversation toward the things of God, and have always wanted to be able to do that. But it isn't easy, at least at first, to be that intentional and that focused… I know for me, it's easier when I am meditating on what I'm learning either from church, or from reading books, or studying God's Word, but sometimes it's still hard! So when I came across these great questions from a blog I follow, I thought I'd share them with everyone; they'll help me for sure!

Questions for Biblical Fellowship

(from http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/hospitality-questions)
1. What is one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year and what are you doing to this end?
3. Who is one person you would like to spend time with asking questions about their relationship with the Lord?
4. What is one new way you could help strengthen the church?
5. What is one thing you could do to improve your prayer life?
6. What habit would you most like to establish this year?
7. Who do you most want to encourage this year?
8. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?
9. In what area of your life do you most need growth and what will you do about it?
10. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year?

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Come Quickly!

Pondering the first moment I see Christ

He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)

I'm still musing over death and dying, and eternity as a whole. Basically, I can't wait until I see Jesus face to face! It's not about how cool heaven will be (Revelation 21:21, 22:1-5, etc). It's not even about all the awful things that won't be in heaven—fear, suffering, pain, sadness (Revelation 21:4). I can't wait to finally "praise the One who paid my debt and raised my life up from the dead" with every fiber of my being, for the rest of eternity. I can't wait to finally savor Jesus Christ, and to embark on a never ending journey in knowing how infinitely worthy He is of all praise, honor, and glory. I can't wait to finally see the lion-like Lamb, the lamb-like Lion; Jesus truly is an admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies! (Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ)

What will happen the first time I see Christ? My heart yearns for that moment, but my mind can barely begin to comprehend it; how can I even dare to imagine it?! I wish I could see Jesus face to face now, then come back and live the rest of my short life here on earth (Job 7:7, 7:16). That way, perhaps after seeing Christ in all His glory, I would have the boldness I need to make every moment count for Him… I would understand how beautiful Christ is and how despicable and worthless sin is (Jeremiah 2)! An eloquent preacher (whose writing style you may recall) said it this way, "Resolved: to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do if I had already seen the happiness of heaven and hell's torments." (Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards)

Here's a song that talks about how wonderful it will be to finally see Christ, for the first time ever. It's called "Arrived" (by Enfield).

Watching and waiting our whole life through
For the moment when we arrive in glory
We'll be standing before His emerald throne
Oh, what a day it will be

All tears are gone and suffering ceased
Perfect new life, no earthly strife
When we finish the race, run to His embrace
Oh, what a day it will be

When we've arrived, stunned and surprised
All things resolved in the blink of an eye
No more distractions, no sin left to fight
First glimpse of Jesus, and faith becomes sight

Feel the ground shake, hear thunder roll
See lightning strike and seraphim fly
All amazed we will fall, yet the Father will call,
"Stand, I've made you my own."

A choir with angels, martyrs and saints
Singing His praise with no end to the days
Shouting, "Holy! Holy! Holy!" to Almighty God
Oh, what a song that will be

When we've arrived, stunned and surprised
All things resolved in the blink of an eye
No more distractions, no sin left to fight
First glimpse of Jesus…

When we've arrived, stunned and surprised
All things resolved in the blink of an eye
No more distractions, no sin left to fight
First glimpse of Jesus,
First glimpse of Jesus,
First glimpse of Jesus,
And faith becomes sight

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Just Some Thoughts on Death

"She came when we were freezing, but she left us burning up!"

Sometimes I think about the songs I want played at my funeral. I know that SOUNDS morbid, but I love thinking about how fleeting this life is and how permanent eternity is; it's like a wake-up call for my soul! Jonathan Edwards said in one of his seventy resolutions, "Resolved: to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death" (Resolution #9). And Jonathan Edwards is certainly someone I want to emulate!

One of the songs that I'd like to have played at my funeral is "Amy's Song" (by Switchfoot, off the New Way to be Human album), with the hopes that at my death my friends and family would think of it as "Amber's Song"… that the way Amy lived would be the way I lived my life too. Here are the lyrics:

Amy's gone

And time rolls on

How far? how fast? how long?


 

The last time we saw Amy

She was headed for the shore

Fighting off the volatile gray skies


 

She said now begins forever

And that no one knows their time

We bid farewell not knowing

That might be our last good-bye


 

Amy was a fighter

She cut like Casius Clay

She burned like a fire

Despite these rains


 

Where time was a question

She only knew one song

She's singing, "how far, how fast, how long?"


 

Salvation is a fire

In the midnight of the soul

It lights up like a can of gasoline


 

Yeah, she's a freedom fighter

She's a stand up kind of girl

She's out to start a fire

In a bar code plastic world


 

Amy was a fighter

She cut like Casius Clay

She burned like a fire

Despite these rains


 

Where time was a question

She only knew one song

She's singing, "how far, how fast, how long?"


 

When everything stops moving

And I stop to catch my breath

And ride my train of thought

All the way around


 

My thoughts return to Amy

And the fire she's begun

She came when we were freezing

And left us burning up


 

Amy was a fighter

She cut like Casius Clay

She burned like a fire

Despite these rains


 

Where time was a question

She only knew one song

She's singing, "how far, how fast, how long?"

How long, how long, how long?


 

The last time we saw Amy

The last time we saw Amy

Yeah, the last time we saw Amy

The last time we saw Amy

Yeah, the last time we saw Amy


 

I want to start that kind of fire! The kind that leaves others burning with passion for Christ long after I'm gone, so that each person God uses me to influence would be used of God to influence myriads more souls. I know I've got a long way to go, but I'm not giving up!

So I guess thinking about death ultimately leads me to think of two things:

  1. How I live my life will determine how I die, and the kind of impact and legacy my life and death will leave.
  2. How GLORIOUS it will be to finally gaze upon the face of my Lord, Savior, and TREASURE, Jesus Christ!!!

Friday, May 22, 2009

Treasure

The Kingdom of the Heavens is buried Treasure; would you sell yourself to buy the One you've found?

Matthew 13:44—"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

I love this verse, and talking about it in college group tonight brought it to the forefront of my mind again. It's a beautiful verse, but (because?) it's also incredibly convicting…

Do I treasure Christ as I should? As long as I'm immersing myself in the world, the answer is no. As long as my thoughts, actions, and desires are based on temporal things, the answer is no (1 John 2:15-17). As long as I'm running to a broken cistern instead of to fountains of Living Water, the answer is no (Jeremiah 2:12-13).

God, I want to treasure YOU above everything else, and IN everything else! I want to keep seeking eternal things, the things that are above, where Christ is seated… I want to continually dwell on—and have my heart breaking and rejoicing all at the same time—the sacrificial act of love that you did by sending Your perfect Son to die on the cross for my sins, to bear the punishment and wrath that should have been mine! Jesus, please grasp my heart and make YOU my TREASURE. I want to be the one who gives up everything, out of pure JOY, just to have You.

Thanks for listening as I preach to myself and struggle to put to death the sinful desires in my heart.

Some cool verses that also came up in conversation and such tonight—

  • 2 Corinthians 6:10
  • Colossians 3:1-3
  • Habakkuk 3:17-19
  • Genesis 4:6-7

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Real Christianity

Check out this picture John Piper posted on his blog... It certainly is a stunning example of what real Christianity is, especially compared to the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel.



Friday, March 20, 2009

When My Heart Turns Away from God

"Why"
Why would I ever choose a broken cistern over Living Water? (Jeremiah 2:12-13)

Where did you go?
For so long you've seemed so lost, so distant—
Though you try to hide your face
Your eyes betray the emptiness of your soul.

Won't you please come back?
Turn around, before it's too late, time is running…
Approaching dusk is never scary
Until the darkness swallows up all the light.

Don't you see what you'll become?
That twisting, winding, deceivingly wide road
You've never taken. But you know the destruction
That lies on that horrid path.

Remember what it was like before?
You loved the light, you frolicked in it—
The warmth of the sun brightened your eyes, colored your cheeks.
Come again to feel the warmth, what you once loved.

Do you miss the sweetness of satisfaction?
Get out of the mudpit and taste of the cool fountain;
I know you never thirsted when you drank of Living Water.
Quench your restless desires with eternity.

Why did you ever want to leave?
How could you forget the Lover of your soul?

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Page CXVI

I recently found a site through another blog that is giving away a bunch of songs for free! The site is called Page CXVI.

These aren't just any songs, though… they are hymns. I know hymns don't SOUND very exciting at first. They carry a connotation of being old and stuffy and maybe even legalistic or overly religious. But the truth is that hymns are just overflowing with wonderful, life-giving, heart-healing TRUTH from the Bible! I know that for my own heart, meditating on Truths from Scripture keeps my mind centered on who I am in Christ, what Christ has done for me on the cross, and helps foster in me a spirit of thankfulness to God for all that He has done in my life. I urge you to take hymns seriously and not dismiss them off as an "old person's" form of worship.

In his book Desiring God, John Piper speaks of the passage in which Jesus says to the Samaritan woman at the well, "The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23-24) In speaking of the truth aspect, Piper says, "The only affections that honor God are those rooted in the rock of biblical truth," and quotes Romans 10:2, John 17:17, and John 8:32 as biblical proof & support.

John MacArthur, in one of his sermons during the Shepherds Conference, stated, "An invitation to salvation is an invitation to worship Christ. It's all about worship. The Father is seeking true worshipers. When we all get to Heaven we are going to worship… it's all about ascribing glory to Christ… Transcendent worship comes from a depth of understanding."

Worshiping God with true affection, real love, requires that we worship God in truth. Worshiping in spirit AND truth is essential, true worship does not and cannot exclude one or the other… Which is why hymns are so encouraging! They contain all the passion of troubled souls, triumphant souls, and souls simply amazed at the grace and beauty of God, and they are just dripping with truth.

PS—If any of you are curious as to why the project is called "Page CXVI," read on. It's really quite beautiful and inspiring!

For all of you who were wondering where our name "Page CXVI" came from, we'd love to share with you a little bit about it. Page CXVI is a reference to page 116 of our personal copy of The Magicians nephew by C.S. Lewis. It is a poignant passage where Aslan begins to sing Narnia into creation out of a black void. One of the characters, Digory, describes it as, "...it was the most beautiful noise he had ever heard. It was so beautiful he could hardly bear it."

As the hymns project began to form, our hope was to wrap the strong lyrical content of the hymns, with music that portrayed our personal reactions to the life that God has brought to our "black void." The most personal song on the album is by far "Joy" with the counterpart, "It is Well" was written by Horatio Spafford after losing his son to scarlet fever, all of his real estate investments to the Great Chicago Fire, and his 4 remaining children to the sinking of a boat. The contemplative turn from "Joy" into the lines from "It is Well" comes out of our own personal tragedy this past year and combines a Psalm like lamentation with hope. Our intention with all of these songs is to be a source of comfort and encouragement to all who hear them.

Thank you again for listening and sharing.

Page CXVI

Monday, February 23, 2009

I Am Too Easily Satisfied…

CS Lewis once wrote,

Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and immorality and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

Why is this quote so real, so poignant? Because it's true. Jeremiah 2:10-13 says the same thing… look especially hard at verse 13—

"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the Fountain of Living Waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water."

So often I turn to the bland pleasures of the world to satisfy my weak desires, rather than going to the one true source of all joy, God Himself. So often I drink dirty, filthy mud water, when all I have to do is turn my back on my own work and drink from the purest, coolest, most delicious source of water there is—the Fountain of LIVING Waters (see also John 4:13-14, and notice how Jesus uses this as a claim of His equality with God).

When I read this quote from Spectacular Sins, it just reaffirmed what my college pastor has been saying over and over again… I'm not QUITE sure, but I think God is trying to tell me something here! (sarcasm…)

This [Colossians 1:14-20] is worth memorizing. If your heart ever wavers and grows cold, come here. Memorize this litany of glories, and ask God to give you affections that correspond to the measure of this greatness—infinite in beauty, immeasurable. If any person or any power or any wisdom or any love awakens any admiration or any amazement or any joy, let it be the greatest person and the greatest power and the greatest wisdom and the greatest love that exists—Jesus Christ.

Why would I turn to ANYTHING except Jesus Christ for joy or satisfaction, when HE is the ultimate beauty to behold, when walking in His will is the ultimate adventure, and knowing Him intimately is the ultimate experience?

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Valley Girls Unite!


Okay, so this is so applicable to many diverse groups of people, not JUST valley girls, haha.

I just wanted to give everyone a heads up on the Sovereign Grace Ministries big February Sale!!! It starts February 1st; that's in three days… (I thought valley girls might be appropriate, because everyone knows how valley girls love to shop, and find the perfect item at the perfectly reduced price!) I found out about it on the Worship Matters blog… You can check out that site's blog post to see the specifics of the sale…

If there are specific books I could recommend for you to purchase it would be Cross Centered Life, for sure, as well as Living the Cross Centered Life and Humility: True Greatness. I have not read the book Worldliness, but I did read bits and pieces of it that CJ Mahaney has posted online for free, and I know someday, hopefully soon, I'd like to read that book as well. Something else that caught my eye is one of the studies in the Pursuit of Godliness series—it's called Disciplines for Life: Steps to Spiritual Strength… However, the whole book is available online in pdf form for FREE… The Worship Matters blog says that 23 books (I'll post an update blog when I find out exactly which books) will be available for $7, while everything from the Pursuit of Godliness series will be $4… So I guess I'd better start saving up!

Also, all the music albums are $6! I don't have much from music from Sovereign Grace Ministries, but all of what I do have has incredible lyrics, all solidly based on Scripture; many times it will even be Scripture itself put into song. For some free downloads to sample their music, check out "I Have A Shelter" from the Come Weary Saints album, "Praise the Lord" from the Psalms album, "Glory Be To God" from the Savior: Celebrating the Mystery of God Become Man, "You Are Good" from the album You and You Alone, and the orthodoxy "What A Savior" from the album Looked Upon.

By the way, the sale only lasts until February 29th, so hurry over to the site and make your choices quickly! Did I mention that they always give FREE standard shipping for all orders in the continental US?

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Fireproof


The movie Fireproof came out on DVD today!

I am excited because this Christian film will have the chance to impact many people-- many more than it has already impacted in theaters. It is the story of a young married couple, a fireman and his wife, who are struggling through their marriage. The main character must learn what love truly is if he is to salvage his dying marriage (Romans 5:8)… I wholeheartedly recommend this movie to any who have not seen it!

I love the Scriptural truths that fill this movie, and I truly and greatly appreciate that Fireproof gives a clear gospel message. I must admit that I have not seen many Christian films, but I have not been very impressed with their presentation of the gospel, or their inclusion (or lack the thereof) of how that gospel message should affect their characters' metamorphoses. I feel that too often Christian films glaze over the gospel, which is ridiculously ironic, because if it were not for that precious Truth, there would be no need, desire, or basis for Christian movies! Isn't the very purpose of the Christian film industry to open doors to reach the lost, as well as to strengthen and encourage believers to live out what it means to be a Christian?

Why does this bother me so much? Because the gospel should be the most important thing in our lives as Christians—Let's follow Paul's example when he says that the gospel is the MOST important thing in his life (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)! And I admit that, like many Christian movies, I leave out the very basis for my existence when I go out into the world, and even when I am in my own home. But I don't want to just sit and ponder what my life might be like if the gospel truly permeated everything I believed, said, and did… I want to go, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, live out the gospel in my life, as a testimony to the glory of Jesus Christ and of God the Father!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Help!!! Please ;-D

I want you all to help keep me accountable and ask me how I'm doing with my reading… questions like how much I've read, and what I've learned from what I've read so far. It would be NICE to finish all… or some… lol… before I go back to school, but this is a very ambitious list! So ask me if I've wasted more time watching television or going online that I could have spent reading. I want to invest my time so that what I do will actually count for eternity, rather than frittering this vapor of a life away on things just as transient as I am. So without further ado, here is the list!

Showdown, Ted Dekker

Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, John Piper

Desiring God, John Piper **Reading

Spectacular Sins, John Piper **Reading

The Passion of Jesus Christ, John Piper

Living the Cross Centered Life, CJ Mahaney **Reading

A Practical View of Christianity, William Wilberforce

Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce, John Piper

Twelve Extraordinary Women, John MacArthur

Competent to Counsel, Jay E. Adams

Living by the Book, Howard & William Hendricks

Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically, John MacArthur (& staff)

30 Days to Understanding the Bible, Max Anders **Reading

Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders

Don't Waste Your Life, John Piper **Reading

Monday, January 12, 2009

I’m Back!

First of all, sorry for the incredibly long hiatus… But it sure was nice to take a break for Christmas!

I have SO MUCH that I want to write about though… within this next week at least I would like to take some time to go through the notes for each of the sermons given at my college group winter camp retreat; they were amazing and I want you all to experience that!

But for now, I want to do a small recap of what we talked about in cell groups last week. Last week, we went through John 19:17-30 and the corresponding passages in the other Gospels (Matthew 27:31-34; Mark 14:26, 32-42; Luke 22:39-46). There is so much to learn in these passages, but one question that I had was— How much of the account of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ is predicted in the Old Testament, that we consistently miss? I don't know about you, but I've always just taken the word of other's that Jesus fulfilled hundreds upon hundreds of prophecies, so last week, I wanted to find some of those for myself… So here are a few of the details given in these four passages from the Gospels that show either Jesus fulfilling Old Testament prophecies Himself, or God the Father, in His sovereignty, making these prophecies that He planned before time began come true in His beloved Son Jesus, the Messiah.

Prophecy Fulfilled

Gospel Accounts

Old Testament Passage

Christ bearing His own cross

John 19:17

Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26

Deuteronomy 21:23 (see the Apostle Paul's commentary on this verse in Galatians 3:13)

Crucified between two thieves

John 19:18

Matthew 27:44, Mark 15:27-28, Luke 23:33

Isaiah 53:9

Christ mocked while on the cross

Matthew 27:39-44, Mark 15:29-32, Luke 23:35-39

Isaiah 53:3, Psalm 22:6-8

Soldiers take & cast lots for Jesus' clothing

John 19:23-24

Matthew 27:35, Mark 15:24

Psalm 22:18

Jesus given sour wine

John 19:28-29

Matthew 27:48, Mark 15:36, Luke 23:36

Psalm 69:21

"IT IS FINISHED"

John 19:30

Matthew 27:50, Mark 15:37, Luke 23:46

Psalm 22:31, Isaiah 53:11-12 (see John 10:18 for one of Jesus' own prophecy of His death)

Jesus bowed His head (as an act of submission to the Father)

John 19:30

Matthew 27:50, Luke 23:46

Psalm 40:6


 

One of the reasons I set out to do this was because I have been taught time and time again that the best tool to interpret Scripture is… Scripture! It was so amazing to see how many prophecies the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ were fulfilled in just this short, 6 hour span of Jesus' life on earth. I encourage you to always use Scripture to interpret Scripture, because God knows the intended meaning of His Word better than any man can discern, of course!