This Spring Break has been a wonderful time to catch up on some sermons. Today my hour-long walk was to the tune of Francis Chan, during his Breakout Session at Passion2010 in Atlanta. What began as a Q & A time turned into a couple of very interesting sermons--one on humility, and the other on suffering.
Both topics were very striking to me and inextricably linked to each other. Interestingly, Francis brought up the same passage in Romans 8 about suffering that Louie brought up in my sermon from earlier in the week, and that I came across in a random reading just yesterday. Maybe there's a reason that keeps getting set before me, eh? :) Francis also became intensely and passionately engrossed in a description of "the fellowship of suffering" after citing Philippians 3:10~
"that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;"
It was pretty powerful. I mean, sure, it's easy to say, "Yeah, I want to know Him! Yeah! I want to know the POWER of His RESURRECTION!" But... wouldn't life be easier if it just stopped there?! What Christian doesn't want to know Jesus more? And who wouldn't want to really experience the POWER of His resurrection? That's exciting stuff! Jesus, God in the flesh, rising triumphant from the grave!
Instead, Paul continues, saying that he wants to know the fellowship of His SUFFERINGS too. That's where we may wanna slam on the mental brakes here and say, "What?!" What kind of fellowship is there in suffering? At this point, Francis went on to imagine what it would be like to suffer through the whippings, beatings, walk, and ultimately the crucifixtion right there with Jesus, and what kind of bond would be formed there.
Now, after this he said something that practically knocked the wind out of me: Christians are often not at peace when they're in their comfort, because they know that this is not the New Testament. They know that sliding in their cushy affluence is not how the New Testament is lived out, and they know deep down inside that there is a much closer place to Jesus. And then, when they're suffering--whether it be persecution or just gritting their teeth and performing whatever task Jesus has for them--they can be more at peace than ever because they are identifying with Christ's sufferings. When they come to the place that all they want is to be near Jesus, no matter what people think of them, regardless of persecution or lack of gratification, there is a more complete peace inside than any amount of upper-class life and money could grant.
What a challenge this was to me! I knew right then and there what this meant to me for this week, and although I am not being persecuted or rejected for my faith I know I need to identify with Jesus's sufferings in my own, seemingly smaller way with my schoolwork. And I know that until that happens, I won't have peace; but when I follow that call for God's sake, there will be peace more complete than I can imagine. I leave this challenge for you as well, to find where you are too comfortable, or too selfish with your time, or whatever, and to seek God and pursue peace.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Know This for 2010
Hey all. I was just listening to a sermon the other day (Louie Giglio, for those of you who are curious) from the Passion City Church back in January. It was a two-parter launching everyone off into the New Year for Christ. His mainest main point was that God is for us (Rom 8:31), but he had four points in Part II, kind of our response to this news that God is for us, and they keep rolling around in my head:
1. Think who you want to be
2. Trust God with your dreams
3. Work as if God is right there beside you
4. Give generously of who you are
I think these are fantastic points, and I only wish I could convey a fraction of what went on in that podcast. It's one thing to read these and think, "Gee, that's a nice thing to try for" (and it really does seem so easy on the first read-through that we might take it for granted) but it's a totally different thing to live this out, to be sitting there trying to make a choice and suddenly have this brought to your mind by the Holy Spirit (who is praying for us believers, by the way! Check out Romans 8!). This is exactly the kind of vision I was catapulted into 2010 by, one that should be propelling us every year, every month, every week, every day, every hour, every moment!
1. Think who you want to be
2. Trust God with your dreams
3. Work as if God is right there beside you
4. Give generously of who you are
I think these are fantastic points, and I only wish I could convey a fraction of what went on in that podcast. It's one thing to read these and think, "Gee, that's a nice thing to try for" (and it really does seem so easy on the first read-through that we might take it for granted) but it's a totally different thing to live this out, to be sitting there trying to make a choice and suddenly have this brought to your mind by the Holy Spirit (who is praying for us believers, by the way! Check out Romans 8!). This is exactly the kind of vision I was catapulted into 2010 by, one that should be propelling us every year, every month, every week, every day, every hour, every moment!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Joy in Room to Breathe
This morning I was fortunate to find myself reading Psalm 21, which begins with,
"The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD;
and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!"
This Psalm is a great poem of joy to God for all His blessings on David. David was recognizing God's blessings in his life, but also recognizing the Source--that he's doing what he's doing and receiving these blessings because GOD gave them in the first place.
Well, a study note in my great study Bible struck me today as I was thinking about the many blessings in my life, the chief of which right now is Spring Break. The note says,
"Your salvation: Ultimately, spiritual salvation may be in view, but the immediate issue is more mundane. One meaning of the Hebrew word salvation is "room to breathe." God had given King David a release from the pressures and constraints that bound him. Jesus speaks of this kind of salvation in Matt. 24:13, as does Paul in Phil. 1:19"
Zing! That is me to a T! Spiritual salvation is a magnificent thing, but so often I get bogged down in the "more mundane immediate issue". This break, then, is a mini-salvation of the "room to breathe" type. For this week, I am released (to an extent) from the pressures and constraints of my teaching. Oh that I can use the time as productively as David, bringing God back into focus in my life and praising Him as the ultimate source of everything good!
"...and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!"
"The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD;
and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!"
This Psalm is a great poem of joy to God for all His blessings on David. David was recognizing God's blessings in his life, but also recognizing the Source--that he's doing what he's doing and receiving these blessings because GOD gave them in the first place.
Well, a study note in my great study Bible struck me today as I was thinking about the many blessings in my life, the chief of which right now is Spring Break. The note says,
"Your salvation: Ultimately, spiritual salvation may be in view, but the immediate issue is more mundane. One meaning of the Hebrew word salvation is "room to breathe." God had given King David a release from the pressures and constraints that bound him. Jesus speaks of this kind of salvation in Matt. 24:13, as does Paul in Phil. 1:19"
Zing! That is me to a T! Spiritual salvation is a magnificent thing, but so often I get bogged down in the "more mundane immediate issue". This break, then, is a mini-salvation of the "room to breathe" type. For this week, I am released (to an extent) from the pressures and constraints of my teaching. Oh that I can use the time as productively as David, bringing God back into focus in my life and praising Him as the ultimate source of everything good!
"...and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!"
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Books books books!
Wow! I had forgotten how much I like books!
Yesterday I was at the Illinois Reading Council conference in Springfield, and it was positively magical (and I'm not just talking about the sheer volume of free stuff my friend Kristi was able to attract!). I got to listen to one of my most favorite illustrators, David Weisner, and nabbed a handful of great books. Upon returning home (and officially starting my Spring Break! PTL!) I read Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (a dumb book), Another Brick from the Wall by Unit 5's own Ron Schweinberg (an inspirational book), and Leprechaun in Late Winter which is a Magic Tree House book.
Today was Borders' "Educator Appreciation Week" kick-off, so I ended up going in and grabbing four new books for about $18. YEAH! I got Weisner's Tuesday, as well as Mercy Watson to the Rescue, Judy Moody, and Chicken Soup With Rice. Aaaaaahhhhh.... is this just a little bit nerdy? Or maybe a lot?
Yes, I really did just spend an entire post sighing about books. But you know what? I had to figure out how this posting works and what could be better to think about than books?
Okay, maybe pizza...
Yesterday I was at the Illinois Reading Council conference in Springfield, and it was positively magical (and I'm not just talking about the sheer volume of free stuff my friend Kristi was able to attract!). I got to listen to one of my most favorite illustrators, David Weisner, and nabbed a handful of great books. Upon returning home (and officially starting my Spring Break! PTL!) I read Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (a dumb book), Another Brick from the Wall by Unit 5's own Ron Schweinberg (an inspirational book), and Leprechaun in Late Winter which is a Magic Tree House book.
Today was Borders' "Educator Appreciation Week" kick-off, so I ended up going in and grabbing four new books for about $18. YEAH! I got Weisner's Tuesday, as well as Mercy Watson to the Rescue, Judy Moody, and Chicken Soup With Rice. Aaaaaahhhhh.... is this just a little bit nerdy? Or maybe a lot?
Yes, I really did just spend an entire post sighing about books. But you know what? I had to figure out how this posting works and what could be better to think about than books?
Okay, maybe pizza...
Hello Life!
Have you ever seen that commercial, I think it's for an insurance company, where the parent is swinging their child on the swing? Back and forth, back and forth the child goes on and off screen, and then all of a sudden the child goes offscreen and comes back onscreen as a young adult--wham!--and hits the parent. Then the voiceover announces as if we should have seen it coming: "Life comes at you fast."
I used to laugh hysterically at that commercial. I still do, but now there is a twinge of bittersweetness to it as well because my life is coming at me so fast right now! That's one of many reasons that "Hello Life" is so appropriate right now.
Life is hurtling at all of us so quickly that sometimes we barely have time to stop and say "Hello Life!" It's easy to forget at times that we are just blips on the radar screen of eternity, vapors amidst our never-changing God, the little I am nots of the Great Story. We can so easily get bogged down, or self-absorbed, that we miss it, and before we know it our "Hello Life" has turned into a "Goodbye Life"!
Have you ever had one of those "Hello! Life!" moments? Now I'm talking about the "Duh! Heeeeello!" times. When something is so obvious that you just wanna say, "Hello! Life!"? I have those, too.
But amidst the rush of oncoming life, and the smacks-in-the-face from obvious life, there's one more attitude you can take: that of grabbing life by the horns, facing it head-on and exclaiming in a bring-it-on manner, "Hello Life!" It's a "Hello! I am ready for you! Let's go!" attitude. The attitude that makes normal, comfortable adults abandon everything to spread the name of Jesus in tribes that aren't even on the map. It's the attitude that makes satisfied, contented families reach out and take in troubled children from across the street or across the globe. It's that attitude that turns a stagnant student into something radical for God's Kingdom. And it's the same attitude that makes you stand firm in the little things--sometimes the hardest things--making right choices, putting others first, delaying gratification, serving, cleaning, studying, working... so that the light you have been given shines to all.
"Hello Life. Bring it on! I am ready!"
I used to laugh hysterically at that commercial. I still do, but now there is a twinge of bittersweetness to it as well because my life is coming at me so fast right now! That's one of many reasons that "Hello Life" is so appropriate right now.
Life is hurtling at all of us so quickly that sometimes we barely have time to stop and say "Hello Life!" It's easy to forget at times that we are just blips on the radar screen of eternity, vapors amidst our never-changing God, the little I am nots of the Great Story. We can so easily get bogged down, or self-absorbed, that we miss it, and before we know it our "Hello Life" has turned into a "Goodbye Life"!
Have you ever had one of those "Hello! Life!" moments? Now I'm talking about the "Duh! Heeeeello!" times. When something is so obvious that you just wanna say, "Hello! Life!"? I have those, too.
But amidst the rush of oncoming life, and the smacks-in-the-face from obvious life, there's one more attitude you can take: that of grabbing life by the horns, facing it head-on and exclaiming in a bring-it-on manner, "Hello Life!" It's a "Hello! I am ready for you! Let's go!" attitude. The attitude that makes normal, comfortable adults abandon everything to spread the name of Jesus in tribes that aren't even on the map. It's the attitude that makes satisfied, contented families reach out and take in troubled children from across the street or across the globe. It's that attitude that turns a stagnant student into something radical for God's Kingdom. And it's the same attitude that makes you stand firm in the little things--sometimes the hardest things--making right choices, putting others first, delaying gratification, serving, cleaning, studying, working... so that the light you have been given shines to all.
"Hello Life. Bring it on! I am ready!"
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