24 December 2010
19 December 2010
notes from the tilt-a-whirl
from the desiring God blog...
page 157 of N. D. Wilson’s book, Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl:
The world is rated R, and no one is checking IDs. Do not try to make it G by imagining the shadows away. Do not try to hide your children from the world forever, but do not pretend there is no danger. Train them. Give them sharp eyes and bellies full of laughter. Make them dangerous. Make them yeast, and when they’ve grown, they will pollute the shadows.
page 157 of N. D. Wilson’s book, Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl:
The world is rated R, and no one is checking IDs. Do not try to make it G by imagining the shadows away. Do not try to hide your children from the world forever, but do not pretend there is no danger. Train them. Give them sharp eyes and bellies full of laughter. Make them dangerous. Make them yeast, and when they’ve grown, they will pollute the shadows.
16 December 2010
14 December 2010
10 December 2010
book list
another book for the ever-growing list:
Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child by Anthony Esolen
via Justin Taylor.
Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Child by Anthony Esolen
via Justin Taylor.
02 December 2010
29 November 2010
notes from lausanne
From John Piper's message on Ephesians 3, delivered at the third Lausanne congress in South Africa:
When Paul was willing to go to prison for the sake of Christ, he showed the nations that Christ is more precious than freedom. When he was willing to suffer for Christ, he showed the nations that Christ is more precious than comfort and security and prosperity.
In other words, the infinite value of the unsearchable riches of Christ shine brightly not in Paul’s prosperity, but in his imprisonment. With his suffering, he draws the nations to the glory Christ and displays the wisdom of the cross.
But no one chooses prison,
* no one turns from prosperity,
* no one sees the breadth and length and height and depth of the love Christ that passes knowledge,
* no one is filled with all the fullness of God,
* no one says, “I count everything as loss for the sake of Christ”
without supernatural, omnipotent power coming into their lives.
And how does it come? Paul shows us that it comes by prayer.
Most of the peoples of the world where the church is not yet planted, don’t want us to come and bring the gospel. But they will perish if the gospel does not reach them. If, for Christ’s sake, we are willing to go—and Christ commands us to go—then we will suffer. And if our suffering is to be the glory of the world, then we must pray.
So to you, O Lord, who are able to do far more abundantly
than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us,
to you be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations,
forever and ever.
Amen.
When Paul was willing to go to prison for the sake of Christ, he showed the nations that Christ is more precious than freedom. When he was willing to suffer for Christ, he showed the nations that Christ is more precious than comfort and security and prosperity.
In other words, the infinite value of the unsearchable riches of Christ shine brightly not in Paul’s prosperity, but in his imprisonment. With his suffering, he draws the nations to the glory Christ and displays the wisdom of the cross.
But no one chooses prison,
* no one turns from prosperity,
* no one sees the breadth and length and height and depth of the love Christ that passes knowledge,
* no one is filled with all the fullness of God,
* no one says, “I count everything as loss for the sake of Christ”
without supernatural, omnipotent power coming into their lives.
And how does it come? Paul shows us that it comes by prayer.
Most of the peoples of the world where the church is not yet planted, don’t want us to come and bring the gospel. But they will perish if the gospel does not reach them. If, for Christ’s sake, we are willing to go—and Christ commands us to go—then we will suffer. And if our suffering is to be the glory of the world, then we must pray.
So to you, O Lord, who are able to do far more abundantly
than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us,
to you be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations,
forever and ever.
Amen.
24 November 2010
Instead, be confident that singleness is intended by God to say something glorious about Him, about His supreme sufficiency to supply every need, and His supreme worth to be loved and devoted to exclusively by all.
Brooks Waldron.
Brooks Waldron.
22 November 2010
the gospel changes everything
Really good series linked by Justin Taylor, on discipleship and the gospel.
20 November 2010
think and do something about
from D. A. Carson.
If I have learned anything in 35 or 40 years of teaching, it is that students don’t learn everything I teach them. What they learn is what I am excited about, the kinds of things I emphasize again and again and again and again. That had better be the gospel.
If the gospel—even when you are orthodox—becomes something which you primarily assume, but what you are excited about is what you are doing in some sort of social reconstruction, you will be teaching the people that you influence that the gospel really isn’t all that important. You won’t be saying that—you won’t even mean that—but that’s what you will be teaching. And then you are only half a generation away from losing the gospel.
Make sure that in your own practice and excitement, what you talk about, what you think about, what you pray over, what you exude confidence over, joy over, what you are enthusiastic about is Jesus, the gospel, the cross. And out of that framework, by all means, let the transformed life flow.
via Justin Taylor.
If I have learned anything in 35 or 40 years of teaching, it is that students don’t learn everything I teach them. What they learn is what I am excited about, the kinds of things I emphasize again and again and again and again. That had better be the gospel.
If the gospel—even when you are orthodox—becomes something which you primarily assume, but what you are excited about is what you are doing in some sort of social reconstruction, you will be teaching the people that you influence that the gospel really isn’t all that important. You won’t be saying that—you won’t even mean that—but that’s what you will be teaching. And then you are only half a generation away from losing the gospel.
Make sure that in your own practice and excitement, what you talk about, what you think about, what you pray over, what you exude confidence over, joy over, what you are enthusiastic about is Jesus, the gospel, the cross. And out of that framework, by all means, let the transformed life flow.
via Justin Taylor.
12 November 2010
28 October 2010
24 October 2010
don't waste your life.
You will waste the pain that comes from losing your dreams if you refuse to let the disappointment drive you like Ruth to let go of all those hopes and put your whole heart into God’s plan for your life, trusting Him to give you what is best.
If you refuse to do this you will eventually find a way to make your dreams happen for yourself, and miss the only thing that really offers you the peace, joy and security you seek in the first place.
from fabs.
If you refuse to do this you will eventually find a way to make your dreams happen for yourself, and miss the only thing that really offers you the peace, joy and security you seek in the first place.
from fabs.
10 October 2010
19 September 2010
the very essence of our nature is desire
But someone will ask, "Should I not desire dinner? Should I not desire a job? Should I not desire a spouse? Should I not desire the child in my womb? Should I not desire a healthy body or a good night's rest or the morning sun or a great book or an evening with friends?"
And the answer is no—unless it is a desire for GOD! Do you desire dinner because you desire God? Do you want a job because in it you will discover God and love God? Do you long for a spouse because you are hungry for God and hope to see him and love him in your partner? Do you desire the child and the healthy body and the good night's rest and the morning sun and the great book and the evening with friends for God's sake? Do you have an eye for God in everything you desire? (See Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31.)
from john piper.
And the answer is no—unless it is a desire for GOD! Do you desire dinner because you desire God? Do you want a job because in it you will discover God and love God? Do you long for a spouse because you are hungry for God and hope to see him and love him in your partner? Do you desire the child and the healthy body and the good night's rest and the morning sun and the great book and the evening with friends for God's sake? Do you have an eye for God in everything you desire? (See Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31.)
from john piper.
10 September 2010
prayer
We can do no thing of real power until we have done the prayer thing. Here is a man by my side. I can talk to him. I can bring my personality to bear upon him, that I may win him. But before I can influence his will a jot for God, I must first have won the victory in the secret place. Intercession is winning the victory over the chief, and service is taking the field after the chief is driven off. Such service is limited by the limitation of personality in one place. . . . Prayer puts man into direct dynamic touch with a planet.
S. D. Gordon. From the Desiring God blog.
S. D. Gordon. From the Desiring God blog.
06 September 2010
john piper
Marriage is not mainly about prospering economically; it is mainly about displaying the covenant-keeping love between Christ and his church. Knowing Christ is more important than making a living. Treasuring Christ is more important than bearing children. Being united to Christ by faith is a greater source of material success than perfect sex and double-income prosperity.
So it is with marriage. It is a momentary gift. It may last a lifetime, or it may be snatched away on the honeymoon. Either way, it is short. It may have many bright days, or it may be covered with clouds. If we make secondary things primary, we will be embittered at the sorrows we must face. But if we set our face to make of marriage mainly what God designed it to be, no sorrows and no calamities can stand in our way. Every one of them will be, not an obstacle to success, but a way to succeed. The beauty of the covenant-keeping love between Christ and his church shines brightest when nothing but Christ can sustain it.
Radical Womanhood.
So it is with marriage. It is a momentary gift. It may last a lifetime, or it may be snatched away on the honeymoon. Either way, it is short. It may have many bright days, or it may be covered with clouds. If we make secondary things primary, we will be embittered at the sorrows we must face. But if we set our face to make of marriage mainly what God designed it to be, no sorrows and no calamities can stand in our way. Every one of them will be, not an obstacle to success, but a way to succeed. The beauty of the covenant-keeping love between Christ and his church shines brightest when nothing but Christ can sustain it.
Radical Womanhood.
25 August 2010
really good article. (about the blessing of the lack of physical intimacy that is inherent in singleness and what it teaches us about God)
22 August 2010
05 August 2010
14 July 2010
21 May 2010
26 April 2010
31 March 2010
thanks elisabeth elliot
"Just here is the lesson for me: when Jesus took up his cross, He was saying yes with all his being to the will of the Father. If I am unwilling to say yes in even a very little thing, how shall I accept a more painful thing? What sort of practice does it take for a disciple to learn to follow the Crucified? A friend hurts us, a plan goes awry, an effort fails--small things indeed. But then cancer strikes, a daughter marries unwisely, a business folds, a wife abandons her home and family. The call still comes to us: Take up your cross and come with Me. With You, Lord? Yes, with Me. Will You give me strength and show me the way? That was my promise--is it my custom to break promises? "
Oh I'm tired. And painting is hard work; mixing colours is hard work. Working with 5- and 6-year-olds is HARD work. Reminding them to wash their hands, to keep their hands off each other, to walk, to talk quietly, to share, how to share, how to apologise, and on and on. It's HARD. And it feels like I'm not making any difference.
But that's a lie from Satan and I'm not going to believe it. Instead, Jesus, I believe that You love these kids with everlasting love and that You called me to this job to love these kids. To, in a million small ways, be Your hands and Your feet and Your voice. And You know that I fail daily. But You forgive me and You intercede on my behalf and underneath are the everlasting arms. And You give wisdom and grace. Jesus--I need Your help! I seriously can't do this anymore unless You help me.
Oh I'm tired. And painting is hard work; mixing colours is hard work. Working with 5- and 6-year-olds is HARD work. Reminding them to wash their hands, to keep their hands off each other, to walk, to talk quietly, to share, how to share, how to apologise, and on and on. It's HARD. And it feels like I'm not making any difference.
But that's a lie from Satan and I'm not going to believe it. Instead, Jesus, I believe that You love these kids with everlasting love and that You called me to this job to love these kids. To, in a million small ways, be Your hands and Your feet and Your voice. And You know that I fail daily. But You forgive me and You intercede on my behalf and underneath are the everlasting arms. And You give wisdom and grace. Jesus--I need Your help! I seriously can't do this anymore unless You help me.
09 March 2010
03 March 2010
straight from elisabeth elliot
Sometimes a task we have begun takes on seemingly crushing size, and we wonder what ever gave us the notion that we could accomplish it. There is no way out, no way around it, and yet we cannot contemplate actually carrying it through. The rearing of children or the writing of a book are illustrations that come to mind. Let us recall that the task is a divinely appointed one, and divine aid is therefore to be expected. Expect it! Ask for it, wait for it, believe that God gives it. Offer to Him the job itself, along with your fears and misgivings about it. He will not fail or be discouraged. Let his courage encourage you. The day will come when the task will be finished. Trust Him for it.
"For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded, therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed" (Is 50:7 AV).
"For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded, therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed" (Is 50:7 AV).
24 February 2010
12 February 2010
30 January 2010
22 January 2010
europe
back home from europe. had a wondrous time--because i serve a wonderful God!
got some amazing opportunities to bless the churches with the gifts God has given me--which is amazing!!! oh i'm so unworthy. i'm just blown away that God knew all this and planned all this and that i got to be part of this huge plan. it's such confirmation for a doubting child. grazie mille!
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