Obama’s life story

God loves you and wants you to be happy.

“What if I tell God I will do whatever He asks, and then he tells me to do something that I simply can’t stand to do? What if He has me do something terribly hard…or something I simply hate to do?”

Most of us have heard this before from someone we know who is afraid to completely surrender and yield themselves to God’s will and plans for them.

Often, I’ve heard the response: “You shouldn’t worry about that. God loves you! He isn’t out to make your life miserable—you can trust Him.”

There are several true things about this statement, but it also contains some confusing language, and false assumptions.

Truths:
You shouldn’t worry…Absolutely true. We shouldn’t worry, because that denotes a lack of trust in God.

God loves you. Also entirely true, but we have to be careful because our definition or view of the love God has for us is often different from the Biblical one.

He isn’t out to make your life miserable. This is also, of course, true. However, sometimes trials and pruning in our life can feel somewhat miserable at times. And, if our will isn’t in accordance with His, life can be quite a miserable experience at times; if we are “kicking against the pricks”, to use Paul’s expression, it will be anything but pleasant.

And this is true—we can trust Him, but this answer implies that God is willing for us to be happy our way. Which is not usually the case.

Because of our fallen nature, our desires and wishes don’t always line up with His. As we grow closer to the Lord, and our mind and heart is renewed with the truth in His Word, they should come into alignment more and more, but we still will have fleshly wishes and desires against which we must struggle—with His strength.

To say that “God wants us to be happy” is true, but misleading. It implies that God wants us to be able to do what we want to do. The truth is that we will never be truly happy or satisfied doing what we want to do unless what we want is glorifying and honoring Christ in the way He wants to be glorified and honored.

So back to the original concern… Might God call us to do something hard—something that we hated to do?

I think He does. Maybe not all the time, but sometime in our Christian walk. He wants a spotless, clean church that puts nothing before Him, especially personal preferences that keep us from doing what He has called us to do. Whatever it will take to break our sinful, stubborn will, He will do it.

And really, that’s a very loving thing to do. Our own desires (when they don’t line up with His) don’t bring Him glorify (our purpose in life), or bring us any joy. For Him to cause the death (slow though it may be) of those desires, is freeing us from bondage.

So is it always pleasant? No, but He is there, through it all. And His mercies are ever new…

“Flabby” language?

I didn’t make it to the New Attitude conference this year, but thankfully, some of the messages have been made available–and free!–online. I started with John Piper (out of order, I know), and came to the part in the message about William Tyndale where he talks about “flabby language”. The following is a small portion of the transcript from desiringgod.org.

Erasmus wrote a book called De copia that Tyndale no doubt used as a student at Oxford. It helped students increase their abilities to exploit the “copious” potential of language. This was hugely influential in the early 1500s in England and was used to train students in the infinite possibilities of varied verbal expression. The aim was to keep that language from sinking down to mere jargon and worn-out slang and uncreative, unimaginative, prosaic, colorless, boring speech. One practice lesson for students from De copia was to give “no fewer than one hundred fifty ways of saying ‘Your letter has delighted me very much.’” The point was to force students “to use of all the verbal muscles in order to avoid any hint of flabbiness.”

-John Piper Read the full article here.

One hundred and fifty variations! Wow. I think I’ll make that a writing project of mine. I wonder how long it will take me to achieve that many ways?

Another quick quote from Piper which amused me very much (and he was speaking about young people’s speech and use of the English language):

“You are flabby! And I’ll tell you the word that marks your flabbiness above all other words–”like”!

My language is often “flabby”, most especially my speech. And yes, I do use the word “like” with unnecessary regularity. Even my writing, though, has much room for improvement.

Do you have a problem with “flabby language” too? What ways have you found helpful in improving your speech?

Come What May…

When browsing a couple new-to-me blogs this morning, I came across the Avent Film Group website. I watched the trailer for their film Come What May. It sounds like it will be an amazing movie. I love it when young people do hard things—because they are the right things. And I love films that portray things as they are—life is sometimes hard! And it appears that this film does just that. I’m going to keep an eye on it, and I look forward to seeing it when it comes out. Interested? Check out the trailer, and the potential poster for the film.

A Christ-centered Summer

A post from John Piper on a Christ-centered summer. Enjoy!

Shadow of the Almighty

After reading, “Through Gates of Splendor”, and “The Savage My Kinsman”, I took up this book for more of the same. I was not disappointed. This book was filled with excerpts from Jim Elliot’s journals, and interspersed with Elisabeth’s commentary and additional information that put the entries in some context. This book moved slower then the previous two, but was absolutely worth the read.

This book was powerfully inspiring and motivating. The journal quotes breathed such love and fervent, passionate devotion to God. His preoccupation with the things of God, the way he viewed all of his life as a sacrifice for the service of Christ, helped reveal to me the areas of my life in which I still viewed my life as “my own”. Reading this book stirred a lingering desire in me to be a missionary and share the gospel with those who have never heard, as it laid bare how empty this life is if not devoted to things that matter in eternity.

Although his passion was extraordinary, at least when compared with the majority of Christians today, he did have times of discouragement and despair. He was not without his weaknesses, yet he did not let those times or temptations dissuade him from seeking his treasure–Jesus Christ.

Jim Elliot was encouraged by friend and family to remain in the states to stir up the American Christians. He did not, saying that Americans had the Scriptures, and he could not stay while there were other peoples that had never heard, and didn’t have the Scriptures. I find it a marvelous working of God that in following his calling to go to Ecuador, Jim Elliot did both–was a witness in an unreached people group, and yet, also stirred up, and continues to stir the American Christians who hear his story, and read his story–a life lived passionately for God.

Memorial Day

I’m late with my Memorial Day post, but after just listening to a message by John Piper—William Tyndale: A Life Transformed by God’s Word—I realized it would be an excellent resource to share in light of this day of remembrance.

The most touching part of the message, for me, was this quote from a letter written by Tyndale, to the king of England.

I assure you, if it would stand with the King’s most gracious pleasure to grant only a bare text of the Scripture [that is, without explanatory notes] to be put forth among his people, like as is put forth among the subjects of the emperor in these parts, and of other Christian princes, be it of the translation of what person soever shall please his Majesty, I shall immediately make faithful promise never to write more, not abide two days in these parts after the same: but immediately to repair unto his realm, and there most humbly submit myself at the feet of his royal majesty, offering my body to suffer what pain or torture, yea, what death his grace will, so this [translation] be obtain

ed. Until that time, I will abide the asperity of all chances, whatsoever shall come,

and endure my life in as many pains as it is able to bear and suffer.

The king refused. And Tyndale never went to his homeland again. Instead, if the king and the Roman Catholic Church would not provide a printed Bible in English for the common man to read, Tyndale would, even if it cost him his life—which it did five years later

In other words, Tyndale will give himself up to the king on one condition—that the king authorize an English Bible translated from the Greek and Hebrew in the common language of the people.

Quote from: DesiringGod.org “Always Singing One Note—a Vernacular Bible”

He was willing to offer himself, if only the translation would be permitted. I realized—again, afresh—that I do not have that kind of love and passion for the Word. Lord, grant that I would!

Do you know how great an impact William Tyndale had on the Bible you hold in your hand (hopefully) every day (you’ll learn this in the message)? Do you know the people who gave their lives for the furtherance of the written Word of God? Let us thank God for them—and praise Him! Let us not take the privilege for granted that we can hold the Word of God in our hands, and read it in our native tongue—many, many people don’t have this blessing. Let us pray for them, too, that God would send laborers into the harvest to share with them the message of reconciliation, and in their own language. And let us also ask, with humble, obedient hearts: “Lord, I’m willing; do you send me ‘not where Christ is named’?” He has called, without exception, all of us as witnesses (some at home, and some abroad). The question to be asked is, “What kind of witness am I being? One faithful to Him?”

On Memorial Day we remember those who gave their lives for us that we might live, and in freedom here on earth. Should we not also remember those who gave their lives that we might live spiritually, and be freed from the bondage of sin, and to sin to glorify God? And ultimately, that is what Christ did and has done for us. Soli deo gloria!

Note: If, for whatever reason, you can’t listen to the message, here is a similar message you can read. “Always Singing One Note—a Vernacular Bible” (also linked to above)

I kneel in awe…

Have you ever been absolutely inspired by the gospel? Ever felt in awe at it, at the very thought of it?

When I think about it—really think about it—I cannot imagine why He chose to save me. All that comes to my mind is “Thank you! Thank you!”

Amazing love; how can it be? that you, my King should die for me…

I’ve been reading such wonderful, edifying books lately: The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew, and Through Gates of Splendor and The Savage My Kinsman by Elisabeth Elliot. In each one, I was overcome with the love these people had for the Father. They were truly willing to give all; to spend and be spent in His service that others might know and be reconciled to God. Through Gates of Splendor impacted me the most. Jim Elliot’s expressions of devotion were so moving, and deepened my hunger for a close, intimate relationship with my Savior.

Is there any way to really describe the ache one can feel to know Him, and to walk in His ways; to tell others of His marvelous, unfathomable grace? I can only say…

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have [free] course, and be glorified, even as [it is] with you: (2 Thessalonians 3:1)

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20

May we never, never lose our awe of the miracle of the gospel…

A simple, commonplace life, you say?

A commonplace life, we say and we sigh,
But why should we sigh as we say?
The commonplace sun and the commonplace sky
Makes up the commonplace day.
The moon and the stars are commonplace things,
And the flower that blooms and the bird that sings;
But dark were the world and sad our lot,
If the flowers failed and the sun shone not.
And God who studies each separate soul
Out of the commonplace lives makes His beautiful whole.
—Anonymous

Ah…a commonplace, simple life isn’t worth living? Not so! I love my simple life…but I can’t exactly say it’s commonplace, I guess. ; )

Simplicity can be such a wonderful thing. These days, life can be overly complicated, and unnecessarily so. Praise God for simple, wonderful life in Christ!

Do we become like those we admire?

Do we become like those we admire? Or do we become like those with whom we associate? Or both?

I was looking on the Desiring God website for another teaching that I might listen to, or read. I decided to look at his online books, and this one caught my eye. It was called The Pleasures of God. Here was the summary:

One way to see the glory of God is to meditate upon the object of his delight. In this reissued version with a new cover design, John Piper unfolds for us a vision of God through the lens of his happiness. What most delights the happiest Being in the universe? God’s gladness in being God. If God’s excellencies can be admired in his pleasures, and if we tend to become like what we admire and enjoy, then focusing on these pleasures can help us to be gradually conformed to his likeness. In other words, we will be most satisfied in God when we know why God is most satisfied in God. — The Pleasures of God by John Piper

What most struck me were the words, “…and if we tend to become like what we admire and enjoy, then focusing on these pleasures can help us to be gradually conformed to [H]is likeness.” I thought about that for awhile. Do I admire God? Do I enjoy Him as I should? I like to be “good”, to do “nice” things and to give pleasure to others. However, in all that I am still a selfish person. So often, I do things for the pleasure of being admired and praised—for the notice and approval of others.

I want to so admire and adore and enjoy God that I care only for His notice and approval. Lord, change me into a selfless, truly loving person!

So back to the original question…Do we [tend to] become like those we admire? Or like those with whom we associate? I know from Scripture that we become like our companions, but as to the first question, I don’t have a Scripture on that. It seems that we do tend to imitate those we admire.

Thoughts?