tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70371918289975856302023-11-15T13:42:31.003-05:00Whale TalesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037191828997585630.post-91997121963618784122011-05-11T21:26:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:41:29.178-04:00Crazy Love - chapter 10How easy is it for us, especially those who have grown up in the church and been to multiple Christian retreats/conferences, to hear a great sermon, be deeply convicted by a biblical truth, and then ...... <span style="font-weight: bold;">do nothing?</span><br /><br />Or, do something for a while but then drift back to the same old mold, conforming to the surrounding culture rather than transforming it?<br /><br />When I finally realized a few years ago that it was exactly that pattern which clearly defined my life, I was humbled and shamed by the shallowness of my "faith." It drove me to do what Jon brought up (chapter 6 comment) -- to ask God for help to desire Him, to the degree that my life reflects, on a day-to-day basis, the reality that Christ has given me a new life in Him.<br /><br />Pastor Francis' advice is tried and true -- expressing a "crazy love" for God is something we do in the seemingly small matters of everyday living. If we keep thinking about love for God as a big, spectacular thing we'll do for Him <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">next summer</span>, or <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">when we start making a steady income</span>, or <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">when we find that perfect partner</span>, or <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);">own a house big enough to entertain guests</span>... we'll never get there, because <span style="font-weight: bold;">we will have missed the whole point of what it means to love God</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Consider and actually live as though each person you come into contact with is Christ.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Is this what I want to be doing when Christ comes back?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />How will you answer the King when He says, "What did you do with what I gave you?"</span><br /><br />challenging words. wise words. fruitful words, if heeded.<br /><br />At this point, having read through these ten chapters (at least, that's what I'm assuming!) and having contemplated His great love for you and the response He desires from you... what comes to mind? What is (at least) one take-away lesson that you will apply (or maybe even have been applying already)?<br /><br />This was my second time reading it, but I'm glad to have done so, and at a slower pace too. I've been challenged to re-examine my motives for why I'm doing what I'm doing (studying at seminary and serving my local church). During these last few months, I have sometimes despaired of whether my "efforts" are worth anything, even by God's standards, and whether I shouldn't be off doing other things which are more fun and self-rewarding. But the truths outlined in this book have consistently brought me back to a right understanding of who God is and who I am. Studying and serving are not things I "have" to do, but things I GET to do. My redeemed life is about making much of my Saviour, not making much of me.<br /><br />Years down the road, I hope to still be in contact with all of you somehow, and to hear wonderful stories of how God has kept your life from being stinky manure and has instead used you as fertilizing manure. But it all starts today. <span style="font-size:180%;">Choose to live for Him!<br /></span><br /><br /><br />*p.s. make sure you don't miss out on the back matter - a mini-interview transcript and a preview to Francis Chan's other great & helpful book, "Forgotten God." The next whale tale? ;)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037191828997585630.post-29324981373164723202011-04-27T14:48:00.003-04:002011-04-27T15:14:29.071-04:00Crazy Love - chapter 9Great title. My thoughts exactly when I went through this book for the first time.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Who really lives that way?</span><br /><br />Probably just crazy people who got extra doses of the Spirit for whatever reason.<br /><br />I have since learned these last few years...there ARE real people amongst us who do live like that. And they are crazy all right!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Crazy in love</span></span> with <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">the one who crazily loves them</span></span>.<br /><br />I find these little snapshot bios very inspiring...because it reminds us that such a sold-out life for Jesus is totally attainable. No matter what your background, character, and giftings... God can use you magnificently, for His glory...if you let Him.<br /><br />Do you care to be one of the "faithful few" who are commended by Jesus for following Him wholeheartedly?<br /><br />The cost is not small, right? Most of the choices you'll have to make (or have made, if you're already on this path) will bring pain, hardship, maybe ridicule and suffering. Maybe little things like saying no to a late-night movie so you can wake up early enough to spend time with Him before heading out the door. Maybe big things like declining a lucrative job offer so you can work a less demanding job and use those extra hours to build relationships with your neighbours. Or using your savings money to adopt a child. Or choosing to live in an undesirable neighbourhood.<br /><br />In a few decades, I really, <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> hope we can all email/facebook/whatever-it-will-be-by-that-time each other and see one another's lives as little bios that can go into this chapter!<br /><br />Do you know anyone whose life might fit in with the other stories in this chapter?<br />What do you want your bio to say?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037191828997585630.post-70327289736391821272011-04-13T23:01:00.001-04:002011-04-13T23:06:37.684-04:00Crazy Love - chapter 8In this chapter, Francis Chan describes some of the characteristics of people who are obsessed with God. "The obsessed," as he calls them, love God, and thus genuinely love their neighbours, even those neighbors that harm them. They are obsessed with the kingdom of God, so they don't care about their comforts here in this temporary dwelling. This means "the obsessed" choose joy and cultivate it. They are content with what they have been given.<br /><br />The descriptions in this chapter were so convicting for me. I am not a risk-taker. Anyone who has known me for even a short while would attest to that. I like to be comfortable, to have my future set out, and to be safe. This was especially coming to surface last night as I was looking through apartment options for next year. I found myself getting obsessed with the "criminal activity" around all the prospective apartments. Yes, safety is important, but as Francis Chan says in this chapter, we shouldn't make it our top priority. How would my decision look if I prayed that God be glorified even in my housing situation? What if instead of spending all my time looking at maps provided by the county police, I prayed and considered how I could tangibly love God and others through this decision?<br /><br />I was convicted to pray over so many areas of my life while reading through this chapter, and I believe all of you were convicted as well. So, was there a particular characteristic of "the obsessed" that stood out to you? What were your thoughts as you read through the descriptions?<br /><br />- written by Na YoungUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037191828997585630.post-23416321960838498442011-04-06T14:26:00.000-04:002011-04-07T00:24:51.579-04:00Crazy Love - chapter 7In a world (country) that bombards you with the message that you should live <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Your-Best-Life-Now-Potential/dp/0446532754">your best life now</a>, it is so very easy & "convenient" to forget that Christ calls us to a radically different way of living, of making choices, of investing.<br /><br />I love how this chapter forced me to get into the nitty-gritty of how I live out what I claim to believe ... it's not hard to do a quick assessment of where my time, money, energy, thoughts are going every day. And that reveals so much about where my heart is.<br /><br />I am also encouraged that, although my heart has many rotten spots, I am not left to rot. God is slicing away those rot spots. Alongside conviction comes the promise that God Himself will help (is helping) His children make increasingly wiser choices as we grow in maturity. I am encouraged as I consider the "giants of the faith" in Hebrews and realize that they were real people with real lives and real struggles - just like you and me, although they passed from this world a little while before we came on the scene. And they were guided to become strong men and women of faith by a real God, who has <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> passed from this world.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Every time </span>I have surrendered something (an area of my life, a relationship, a decision...) to this living God, He gives back more than I gave away (which is really very little, each time). Without fail. Yet at times, I still find myself foolishly struggling to give more the next time I have the opportunity to do so. Must ask for help continually to hold things more loosely...<br /><br />One question for this chapter -- <span style="font-weight: bold;">What are you doing right now that requires faith?</span><br /><br />Lord, teach us to spend this life on things that honour You.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037191828997585630.post-51589194929280497112011-03-29T17:09:00.004-04:002011-03-29T23:44:05.773-04:00Crazy Love - chapter 6<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">How deep is my own love for God? Would I be happy in a heaven where everything was “pleasant”, yet I didn’t have God? Do I love the gifts of life more than the One who gives them? These are some questions that I was asking myself as I read this week's chapter of </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Crazy Love</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. More than that, these are questions that I have been asking myself for the past couple of weeks, as I have been placing my own desires and needs on the throne of my life. In the midst of focusing solely on my relationships, grades, and career goals, I would offer God half-hearted offerings of prayer and worship out of guilt and fear. As Francis Chan calls it, I was trying to buy and prove my love to God, as opposed to truly loving him the way I ought (p 102). </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But how can we genuinely love someone, if our wicked hearts are not naturally inclined to do so? Chan offers the answer towards the end of the chapter. We tell God honestly how we feel. We confess what we have been idolizing. We repent. We tell God that we want to desire Him above all things, and ask Him to take control of our lives (p 110-111).</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The prayer that the author ends the chapter with reminds me of a promise God gives us in 1 John:</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“And this is</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the confidence that we have toward him, that</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></sup><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">if we ask anything according to his will he hears us</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. And </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">if we know that he hears us</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> in whatever we ask, </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.” 1 John 5:14-15</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Praise God for His love for us, His goodness, and His faithfulness!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Questions:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1. What are some things that you have been choosing lately over God? What supposed “needs” are you trying to satisfy with these pursuits and how would these needs be properly resolved through loving God?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;">2. In what ways have you been trying to buy (pay God back for what He’s done) or prove (make up for past failures) your love for God? Take some time to re-evalulate your spiritual life and church service and make sure you are doing things out of a true love for God and others.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'times new roman';font-size:medium;">3. What is an example in your life when you realized that you are more satisfied by giving and sacrificing for others than by having your own needs met?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Paul Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04702540610781920010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037191828997585630.post-76648491885485730682011-03-23T21:17:00.002-04:002011-03-23T22:24:45.217-04:00Crazy Love - chapter 5Perhaps most of us, after reading chapter 4, sat rather uncomfortably for the past few days. The first time I encountered the "profile of the lukewarm," I even wished it had never confronted me, precisely because I saw so much of myself described in that profile. Ignorance is bliss, right?<br /><br />Not when it comes to matters of eternal significance.<br />In this chapter, Pastor Francis digs even deeper into what it means to be a "lukewarm Christian," and presents a relatively shocking truth -- no such person exists.<br /><br />On one hand,<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> it is </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">shocking</span></span>, because ... well, we are accustomed (it is our custom, it is our culture) to lean on "easy-believism" = <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Jesus is a great addition to your life, pretty wallpaper; but to let God tear down your house and replace the main structure with Jesus?! No thanks... that's for the super-holy.</span><br /><br />On the other hand, <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">it is not shocking</span></span> when you consider that the myth-buster is within reach of every single one of us -- crack open your Bible & see for yourself the kind of radical commitment Christ requires of His followers.<br /><br />This chapter came as a much-needed splash of cold water for me. God taught me this week, using some very painful lessons, that I had started to let the wrong motivations drive my studies. Yes, even the study of Him & His Word! My heart is an idol factory.<br /><br />When I left Taiwan to come here, the Lord spurred me on with the very same verses quoted throughout this chapter --<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. </span>-- Luke 14:33</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.</span> -- Matthew 16:24-25</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102); font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? </span>-- Luke 9:25</span><br /><br />My answer about a year ago was, "Got it, God - I will follow you <span style="font-style: italic;">anywhere</span> and do <span style="font-style: italic;">anything</span> you ask of me." I was <span style="font-style: italic;">fired up</span>. nahm sayn??<br />(a year ago I also would NOT have used those last two sentences :P)<br /><br />And then over the months, other things crept in, and other idols were set up. I didn't even realize my bondage until God smashed them last week, and I felt crushed as many of my self-concocted dreams shattered. But through the idol-smashing & through this chapter, my Father showed me that I had turned away from a full commitment to Him, that I needed to repent and let those verses sink into my life again. So for that, I am very grateful.<br /><br />2 questions (the first more for personal reflection) -<br /><ul><li>What is your goal when you consider your relationship with God? If your goal is not God Himself, consider seriously the high possibility that you are not in a right relationship with Him at all.... and if that concerns you, address it before God himself, on your knees...<br /></li></ul><ul><li>Fill in the blank with your own words or with words you hear quite often from others:<span style="font-style: italic;"> Can I ____________________ and still go to heaven? </span>What does this question reveal about our attitude towards following Jesus?</li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037191828997585630.post-63210923875257356432011-03-15T20:05:00.004-04:002011-03-16T00:00:43.534-04:00Crazy Love - chapter 4Upon reading this chapter, I realize that the previous chapters were mere warm-ups to the real beat-downs<span style="font-style: italic;"> Crazy Love</span> has in store for us.<br /><br />In this chapter, Francis Chan challenges us with descriptions of a "lukewarm" Christian. After reading each example, I found myself saying "Yup, that's me" every time. It's one thing when I know that I'm unworthy, and it's another when someone tells me that, as a lukewarm Christian, I am not even fit for manure. This revealed to me a glimpse of the life that God requires of me and how much I fall short.<br /><br />One of the biggest things that stuck out at me while reading was the verse Matthew 7:21 which states, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."<br /><br />It's a pretty simple verse, but I think what it made me realize about myself was that I thought my salvation was assured and the Christian life I was living was sufficient just because I did and said what other "good" Christians were doing and saying. As Pastor Francis wrote, as a lukewarm Christian, I live my life comparing it to others' and not what is required of me in the Bible. As Philippians 3:10 states, knowing Christ is not just knowing about his death and resurrection but it's also partaking in his sufferings and becoming like him in his death.<br /><br />On those rare occasions I do something extra-Christiany like donating to the poor or giving up a day to serve the homeless, I do feel pretty satisfied with myself and believe that God is satisfied, but in reality, it's not even close. God requires us not to just give up more of ourselves, but to give up ALL of ourselves.<br /><br />I am NOT good soil. I am soil filled with thorns. I agree with <span style="font-style: italic;">Crazy Love</span> in that as American Christians, we do want God, but we also want so many other things in life like money, careers, respect, relationships, etc. I have to admit that no matter how much I say I prioritize God in my life, I cannot honestly declare that I love Him so much that I am willing to give up food or comfort or my career or my family. Of course, these things may not be inherently evil in themselves, but when they take up our time and attention from God, are we able to cut them our of our lives?<br /><br />In what ways are you a lukewarm Christian?<br />What verse jumped out the most at you in this chapter?<br />What changes will you make in your life based off of your reaction to this chapter?<br /><br />-- written by JonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037191828997585630.post-75703333233377199982011-03-09T09:52:00.002-05:002011-03-09T10:24:32.895-05:00Crazy Love - chapter 3I remember a conversation I had years ago with a friend in high school. He asked, "Didn't Jesus <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span> that He would conquer death and reign forever anyway, so wasn't His 'suffering' kind of ... contrived?"<br /><br />That question stuck with me for a long time. How much was Christ's agony, crucifixion, and death "worth" if, because of His omniscience, He knew things would end up fine in the end?<br /><br />One day, by God's grace my eyes were opened and I saw the twisted nature of that question. Because the answer is, <span style="font-style: italic;">it doesn't matter that He knew anyway -- the bottom line is, <span style="font-weight: bold;">He didn't have to do it.</span></span><br /><br />As many faithful believers before us have testified, a man will never in his own short lifetime understand the crazy depths of God's love for His people.<br />BUT we CAN start to taste some of its flavours, and find joy & security in His love.<br /><br />From what I have observed, especially in Asian churches, the concept of "having quiet time" or "doing devotions" with God every day can become a job responsibility. The way everyone talks about it gives the impression that if you do it regularly, you are a good Christian; if not, you feel the burden of guilt and shame. Have you experienced this? I have struggled a lot in this area.<br /><br />But when set against the background of God's love for me, how wrong that attitude is! My spending time in prayer and the Word should spring effortlessly out of a deep desire to just be with my Father. My view of God is the true measure of my responsive love for Him, not the regularity or length of my QTs.<br /><br />I think that is why this book started with a reflection on the majesty of God, and why we sometimes need to carve out time for mini-retreats (by ourselves, in our room or in the woods or somewhere quiet) .... too often, we get dulled and forget the intensity of who the Lord is, and how much He wants us to walk closely with Him. We always need to get pulled back and start again with who God is, and then who He wants us to be in light of that.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Do you believe that the Good News is <span style="font-weight: bold;">not merely </span>the forgiveness of your sins, the guarantee that you won't go to hell, or the promise of life in heaven?</span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><br />Do you love this <span style="font-weight: bold;">God who is everything</span>, or do you just love <span style="font-weight: bold;">everything He gives you</span>?</span><br /><br />Questions for reflection & discussion (modified from the CL study guide) --<br /><ul><li>How is your relationship with your earthly father? In it, do you see any overlap with the way you relate to God?</li></ul><ul><li>Pick one word to describe your relationship with your heavenly Father. Does your “one word” reflect a reality you’re pleased with or one you’re disappointed in? If you’re pleased, then great. But if not, what one word would describe the way you’d like it to be?</li></ul><ul><li>Consider using that one word as a prayer for a while, repeating it throughout the day when God’s Spirit prompts you. It could be a significant first step to praying without ceasing. </li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037191828997585630.post-84951794857520927802011-03-01T17:44:00.003-05:002011-03-02T17:57:08.896-05:00Crazy Love - chapter 2I like how this chapter comes right after the one about God's awesome & eternal otherness. From that, we turn to the brevity & mortality of ourselves, and get a sense of how small we are in comparison to Him. Not in a degrading "you are worth nothing" sense, but in an enlightening "wow, i am not actually the center of the universe" sense.<br /><br />As we move onto the next chunk of James in our peacemaking series (!), how clearly these themes are beginning to echo all around us!<br /><br />On the average day, we live caught up in ourselves. That is just so, SO true...sadly. All the suggestions in the chapter 1 post are great ways to get beyond this; to remember to stop belly-button-gazing and keep our eyes looking outwards.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anxiety</span></span>. <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Worry</span></span>. <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stress</span></span>.<br />Many of us are so defined by these words. Have you ever considered that these "emotions" are direct violations of a command from God? I think we push these words around so much that it is almost expected that we are experiencing one or all of these at any given moment. Next time, instead of simply asking God to help your _______ (presentation, assignment, meeting, exam...) go well, maybe we can try asking instead for a deeper understanding of His sovereignty/power/love/holiness...and for His peace to wash out those fears.<br /><br />mini-revelation/reminder while reading this chapter --<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">My life is not mine, but God's.</span></span><br /><br />Doesn't that go against so much that is ingrained in us? <span style="font-weight: bold;">It's my time, I do what I want, no one can or should tell me otherwise.</span><br /><br />"Why are we so quick to forget about God? who do we think we are?"<br /><br />Like the Jesus Storybook Bible (^^) so wonderfully illustrates...it's all about Christ. Not Moses! Not Isaiah! Not Paul! Not me! Not you!<br /><br />What is your "2/5ths of a second" going to be about? making much of God? or yourself?<br /><br />How can you bring glory to God while eating a sandwich during lunch break or studying at 12:04am?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Are you ready to die well?</span><br /><br />Death has circled around me peripherally a lot this past week. 3 of my good friends had good friends suddenly taken away (climbing accident, illness, and one unknown cause but his body was found in the Mississippi River). All were in their 20s.<br /><br />Death was not meant to be... but here it is, in this broken world, and it is an alarm clock to us who are still living.<br /><br />Discussion Qs:<br /><ul><li>Those who do not believe in God also sense that it's important to live every day to the fullest. How does the Bible's teaching about this differ from the popular sayings, "Follow your dreams! Be all that you want to be; after all, you only live once."</li></ul><ul><li>Can you think of anyone you know personally who lives as if each day is his/her last? What is this person’s effect on people around him/her? Does this person stand out because of his/her lifestyle?<br /></li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037191828997585630.post-68370988154001547772011-02-22T20:23:00.006-05:002011-02-22T21:18:57.269-05:00Crazy Love - chapter 1God as a handy companion; God as someone I should think about once in a while.<br /><br />For the longest time, that was my attitude towards the Creator of the universe.<br /><br />What arrogance! And it still pops up sometimes, as I continue to suffer from "spiritual amnesia."<br /><br />The first time I remember reflecting on God <span style="font-style: italic;">as a being to be feared</span> was in second-year university, when our theme as a Christian fellowship was "facedown" -- based on John's vision in Revelation. It started to sink in that, in the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bible</span> (a real book!), <span style="font-weight: bold;">John</span> (a real man!) was describing <span style="font-weight: bold;">the throne room</span> (a real place!) of a<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Holy God</span> (a real reality - the realest thing that can possibly exist!).<br /><br />A few years later, my pastor taught a series on "The Attributes of God." Though I grew up in the church, I had not ever truly meditated on each of God's incredible attributes. I was well exposed to the phrases of "God is love" and "God is wise" (we can learn many good things from Him). But holy? eternal? all-knowing? all-powerful? just? fair? I realized that my ignorance of those attributes had horribly stunted & narrowed my view of the Lord.<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><br />Are you staggered by His awesomeness?</span><br />Do you live your life with an awareness that every action/breath/thought is completed in the presence of the Almighty? When you pray and sing to worship Him, are you mindful of the <span style="font-size:130%;">majestic holiness </span>of the One you are worshiping?<br /><br />Oh, it is <span style="font-style: italic;">so easy </span>to forget. I do, all the time.<br /><br />By His grace though, I'm starting to understand more and more about why God gave us the Bible, gave us the church (Christian community), gave us the testimonies of other saints (believers) who have gone before us, gave us praise music to enjoy ... it seems that the more we surround and immerse ourselves in these things, the less distracted we become with the world, and the easier it becomes to blow off the fog and see reality = <span style="font-size:180%;">the Lord is God, I am not</span>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What are some things you do to help keep the majesty of God in focus from day to day? </span>Share some suggestions for us to try, so we can help keep each other out of spiritual amnesia.<br />example - I find my mood really affected by music (especially song lyrics) so I try to make a point of filling my days with songs that have worshipful words. For instance, the song below was shared with me a few months ago, and just listening to it caused my heart to <span style="font-style: italic;">overflow</span> with praise. It's like being in His throne room! Though I know it is but a shadow! Take a listen (surround sound/earphones if possible)... do you agree?<br /><br />And here are some more helpful follow-up questions from the CL Study Guide --<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stop and think about the last prayer you voiced. How did you begin? </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Our Father? Dear Lord? Jesus? </span>What word or phrase did you use to start the prayer? Now, take a minute and consider the prayer you prayed before that prayer. How did you begin? Same word or phrase? Different? Sorta different or radically different? If you begin all your prayers in much the same way, ask yourself why.<br /><br />Take on this scenario: You’ve just seen Jesus. One of those courtroom sketch artists has asked you to <span style="font-weight: bold;">physically describe</span> what you just saw.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> What do you say? </span>Be as specific as possible. Try and figure out the sources of some of your descriptions.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5NN9hX61vhg" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037191828997585630.post-74898837338039748632011-02-15T18:06:00.006-05:002011-02-15T23:51:19.292-05:00Crazy Love - prefaceI vividly remember the first time I heard this preface. Yes, "heard"! I had downloaded the audio version and decided to take a listen while waiting for a transfer at the Hong Kong airport...<br /><br />The first sentence of the preface had me hooked.<br /><br />I recall an odd kind of giddiness that arose as I listened on, realizing that I am not alone in perceiving a large gap between the character of the early church as described in the New Testament, and character of today's churches in the West. I was also excited to learn that this book was not out to "bash the church" as many others have done ... Jesus calls the church His bride and very own body. How can we bash that?<br /><br />Similar to Francis Chan, I grew up "believing in God without having a clue what He is like."<br /><br />Thankfully, also similar to Chan, God has been opening my eyes these last few years to see just HOW BIG and HOW AWESOME He truly is.<br /><br />A quotation I came across the other day really sums up a truth I've been discovering -<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Deep theology is the best fuel of devotion; it readily catches fire, and once kindled it burns long. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">- Will Metzger</span><br /><br />Love is always accompanied by, or you could say expressed by, a singular devotion to the object of your love. Are you devoted to God? Is your life devoted to loving Him?<br /><br />For a long time, that answer for me was NO. And I didn't know how to get out of that rut ... but God heard, and He graciously pulled me out. As my understanding of Him grew deeper, my devotion got hotter!<br /><br />I am really praying that God will do the same for each of you (and me, still) especially in these coming weeks as we meditate collectively on the <span style="font-style: italic;">craziness</span> of His love for us.<br /><br />Here are some questions for discussion in the comments...pick one (or more!) and run with it. Or add some of your own. :)<br /><br /><ul><li>Who are you? We have about 24 people doing this together right now ... introduce yourself (I guess mainly for Jenny's sake, since she has never met any of you other wonderful people!) and let us know where you are coming from - maybe a bit about your background, your previous experience(s) with God, what made you decide to join in the reading...?</li></ul><ul><li>What do you expect and/or hope to learn in the coming 10 chapters?</li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037191828997585630.post-32169655692842134302011-01-27T17:12:00.000-05:002011-01-27T17:13:10.730-05:00the Visionthis song came over the speakers as i was getting this page set up, and it suddenly hit home how well the lyrics fit with our theme of <span style="font-size:130%;">discovering God for who He </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >really</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> is</span>, <span style="font-size:78%;">not just who we think He is</span>.<br />plus, Matt 7, which we talked about last Friday, is even featured (the Bible pasage...not the artist).<br /><br />take a listen to this acoustic goodness and <a href="http://ampmovement.bandcamp.com/">buy the whole CD</a> to support <a href="http://www.youtube.com/ampmovement">AMP</a> if you like this one. because all their songs are this good (or better)! Bernie, you can back me up on that, yeah? :)<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p14XnkLJfUE" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7037191828997585630.post-56502692209659972042011-01-27T17:11:00.000-05:002011-01-27T18:46:10.999-05:00swimming in crazy looooveso our first collaborative effort at getting our noses into some rich God-oriented lit will be "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. many of you have probably heard of this book, and some have even read it already! if this is your second time through, hopefully you'll have even more insights to share. :) for those who have not heard of this title, <a href="http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/book-review-crazy-love-by-francis-chan">click here</a> for a solid review.<br /><br />and for a model of how an "online book club" can be run, see <a href="http://www.challies.com/reading-classics-together/reading-the-next-classic-together">this example</a>.<br />we don't have to follow it exactly, of course. perhaps we can take turns writing weekly posts about each chapter (and they don't have to be essay-length reflections!). and then the rest of us can interact through the comments section.<br /><br />hope you can join us as we walk through this book together & give this format a try.<br /><br />below is a short video put out by the author to introduce his work.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wvtNTUV9O50" frameborder="0" height="390" width="640"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0