Monthly Archive for March, 2009

There are Tides in the Affairs of Life

Published on March 29, 2009 in Uncategorized. 2 Comments

“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled (Heb 12:15).”

There are particular times when in conjunction with the Word of God, the Holy Spirit convicts our hearts.  At such times, we may be tempted to not listen.

But, the author of Hebrews repeatedly warns his audience that quitting is no option for Christians. A failure to persevere is catastrophic.

(1) There is such a thing as not obtaining the grace of God.

(2) And, if we choose to turn a deaf ear to the Spirit, we can defile many others in addition to ourselves.

So, today if the Spirit convicts you in some regard, see to it that you don’t turn a deaf ear.

Adapting Shakespeare, there are tides in the affairs of the Christian, which taken on the flood, lead onto blessing.  Ommitted, all the voyage of life is bound in shallows and miseries.

If God convicts you now, “on such a tide you are now afloat.”  Hear his voice.

To Kindle 2 or Not to Kindle 2, That is the Question

Published on March 23, 2009 in Gear and Kindle. 3 Comments

For those considering the purchase of Amazon’s new e-reader, here are my observations after 11 days.

Positive:

  • Good customer support from Amazon.  I’ve called more than once and haven’t waited more than a minute. The reasons I have called have been my incompetence and the Amazon tech people no doubt tell stories about me during break.
  • Easy Reading – In some ways, the Kindle is easier to read than a book.  For instance, when reading in bed, it is easier to simply rest the side of the Kindle on the bed.  If you can’t picture what I mean, or would prefer not to try and picture it, then just take my word for it that it easy to read in bed.  Of course, my wife is willing to go to sleep with a 20,000 candle power light on my nightstand.
  • Convenient downloads.  The wireless network works well – - even in rural Illinois
  • “Free” book samples are easy to download and review.  Without obligation, one can read a chapter give or take. I don’t like using “free” in this context since nothing about the Kindle is free.  But, you know what I mean.
  • Bookmark feature is easy to use.
  • Battery life is good provided one turns off the transmitter, which is only needed for downloads.  I have only charged twice in eleven days of ownership.
  • Size, appearance, and all of that are as advertised.

Negative:

  • The background is darker (more gray) than I expected. The pictures I saw made the contrast look better than reality.  I thought about sending it back.  However, I am getting used to it. It requires more light for me to read with a Kindle than with a normal book.  This is the biggest negative.
  • Prices are on the way up.  An increasing number of titles are $14.99 instead of $9.99.  These tend to be the titles one wants.
  • I don’t think it will work for theology/reference books where it is necessary to move from one section to another. It is much better for “linear” reading where one reads straight through a book.  For instance, I wouldn’t even consider getting a commentary on my Kindle.
  • You can’t transfer books.  See Dr. Vanderlaan’s helpful post here.  This policy on Amazon’s part irritates me.  I understand it.  But, I don’t like it.
  • I really didn’t like the “joystick/mouse thingie.” I’m getting better at using it.  Of course, most 90 year olds have better small motor skills than I do.
  • 240,000 books aren’t that many.  Several recent books that I would have considered purchasing are not available.
  • You can’t load .pdf or Word files.  This also irritates me with Amazon; it is a control thing on their part.  I don’t appreciate it.
  • Shadowing. At times, I can make out text previously displayed.  Hopefully, this won’t get worse with time.  I’d hate to think that the Kindle will be the e-reader version of an 8-track tape where you could hear more than one song at once.
  • No case included.
  • It doesn’t smell like a book. I always smell books.  It is part of my experience of reading.  The Kindle 2 doesn’t have any more fragrance than a nickel, unless you put it in some sort of case.  I have the Amazon issued case.

Bottom line:

I would suggest that, those considering a purchase should focus on two questions.

(1) Do you purchase and read a lot of books?

(2) Do you travel?

A solid “yes” to either question means purchasing a Kindle 2 could well be for you.  If your answer is “yes” to both questions, then I would recommend it, criticisms notwithstanding.

Secret Prayers

Published on March 22, 2009 in Prayer. 2 Comments

Ever pray for someone you’ve never met, say standing in front of you at the grocery store, will never see again, and who doesn’t even know you are praying?

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Matthew chapter 6 begins with a principle.  Jesus told the disciples to avoid doing good things for the sake of human approval.  He said, “don’t do acts of righteousness before men to be seen by them.”  Instead, we should do our acts of righteousness “secretly,” before God alone.

One of my favorite ways to live out this principle is through what I call “secret prayers.”  For me, a secret prayer is when I pray for someone I don’t know, will likely never see again, and who has no idea that I prayed for him or her.

My prayers go something like this.  “God, I don’t know why this guy having his oil changed looks so tired.  I have no idea what is going on in his world.  Maybe he has a lot of stress at work.  But, I pray that you might bless him today.”

God is pleased when we care for people we don’t even know.  And, I know that God answers prayer.  My secret prayers are just between God and me on behalf of someone else.

I have a theory that someday when I get to Heaven I’ll be able to check out DVD’s that document how a few of my secret prayers made a difference.

What would happen if every believer who read this post started praying 5 secret prayers a day?

Take a Rest in Port William Fiction With Wendell Berry

Published on March 21, 2009 in Recommended Reading and Wendell Berry. 3 Comments

I’m an “avoracious” reader as Barney Fife once said.  In addition to theology and blogs, I read a lot of fiction.  Rarely do I recommend fiction in posts. I make an exception for Wendell Berry.  If you are looking for reading that will help you think carefully about life in the 21st century, then read Berry’s books about Port William, a fictional community in Kentucky.

For an explanation of why you should read Wendell Berry, read this article in Christianity Today (click here).  I am not as high on Berry as these authors – - I don’t think he is the prophet we most need to hear – - still, his perspective is well worth considering.

There are a number of Port William books.  I would recommend beginning with Hannah Coulter. It’s short – - you could read it in a few hours, and yet profound.  An excerpt:

This is the story of my life, that while I lived it weighed upon me and pressed against me and filled all my senses to overflowing and now is like a dream dreamed. So close to the end now, what do I look forward to? ‘Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.’ Some morning, I pray, I’ll have the good happiness of ‘the man who woke up dead,’ who Burley Coulter used to tell about. Wendell Berry. Hannah Coulter, page 5.

You can see other Wendell Berry titles in my bookstore (click here).

Is God Shouting to You in This Way?

Published on March 20, 2009 in C.S. Lewis, Quotes and suffering. 1 Comment

C.S. Lewis wrote in The Problem of Pain,

God whispers to us in our pleasure, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

If God is shouting to you through pain, be sure to listen.

Why Kill the Pre-Schoolers in Jericho?

Published on March 18, 2009 in Preaching and Recommended Reading. 1 Comment

I recently preached a sermon (click here to listen) that considers a very tough question, “Why did God order Israel to kill everything in Jericho including pre-school age children?”

What would you say if someone asked you about the ordered destruction of all life in Jericho?

I would also recommend Christopher J.H. Wright’s book, The God I Don’t Understand, which addresses this and some other tough questions.

Challies Review: Picking Cotton

Published on March 18, 2009 in Forgiveness. 0 Comments

Tim Challies has written an excellent review of the book Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption. Click here to read Tim Challies review.

I previously posted on the remarkable story of Jennifer Thompson and Ronald Cotton (see here for a summary of the story and a link to the 60 Minutes special). 

Cindy Winters Reflects the Grace and Glory of Christ

Published on March 18, 2009 in Forgiveness. 5 Comments

You’ve no doubt heard the tragic story of Pastor Fred Winters who was murdered during a church service. Here is an interview with Pastor Winters’ widow, Cindy.

I am especially blessed by how Cindy Winters offers to meet with the parents of the man who murdered her husband. She also speaks wisely about the challenges she and her daughters face. 

Would you pray for the Winters’ family?

 

Read This Before Pinching: Patrick Wasn’t a Leprechaun

Published on March 17, 2009 in Recommended Links. 2 Comments

Russell Moore on Patrick:

To our shame, most evangelical Protestants tend to think of Saint Patrick as a leprechaun. As we watch the annual drunken parades and pop-culture consumerism of the March holiday, no one could seem more removed from biblical Christianity than Patrick. And yet, Patrick’s life was closer to a revival meeting than to a shamrock-decorated drinking party named in his honor.

In his volume, St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography, Philip Freeman, a professor of classics at Washington University in St. Louis, lays out a compelling portrait of Patrick, the theologian-evangelist. In accomplishing this, Freeman attempts to reconstruct Patrick’s cultural milieu-that of a world that had “ended” with the fall of Rome in 410 A.D. This collapse of Roman power had unleashed savagery in the British Isles, as thieves and slave-traders were unhinged from the restraining power of Caesar’s sword. Patrick’s ministry was shaped by this new world, not least of which by Patrick’s capture and escape from slavery.

Freeman helpfully retells Patrick’s conversion story, one of a mocking young hedonist to a repentant evangelist. The story sounds remarkably similar to that of Augustine-and, in the most significant of ways, both mirror the first-century conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Freeman helpfully reconstructs the context of local religion as a “business relationship” in which sacrifice to pagan gods was seen as a transaction for the material prosperity of the worshippers. Against this, Patrick’s conversion to Christianity was noticed quickly, when his prayers of devotion-then almost always articulated out loud-were overheard by his neighbors.

Read the whole thing here.

We are Not the First

Published on March 15, 2009 in Uncategorized. 2 Comments

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What would be the difference in your level of fear with these two scenarios?

Scenario #1 – You’re preparing to parachute out of an airplane following a number of other parachutes.  It is the military system of parachuting where your chute opens for you.  All you have to do is fall.

Scenario #2 – You are the first sky-diver in history.  The idea of a parachute working is only a theory.

For the record, the first successful parachute jump in history was in 1797 when André-Jacques Garnerin dropped from about 6,500 ft over Monceau Park in Paris in a 23-foot-diameter parachute made of white canvas with a basket attached.

So, picture that you are doing the first parachute jump ever.  Maybe some inventor said to you,

Look, I’ve got a theory.  I have noticed that when leaves fall, they don’t go straight down.  In fact, they go sort of slow.  Even when they do land, the leaves don’t hit so hard.  So, what I want you to do is tie this big piece of silk to your back.  You will jump off this cliff and the idea is that the silk will catch the air and you will fall gently to the ground.  You will be like a sort of giant leaf floating to the ground.

What would be the difference in your level of fear between these two scenarios?

The answer is obvious.  In the first scenario, depending on how brave you are, you would be somewhat nervous, but also reasonably confident that you would live.

But, for any sane person, the prospect of being the first person in history to parachute would be positively terrifying.

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In the Christian life, we face Scenario #1, not Scenario #2.  Don’t buy the lie that you are the first person to ever be faced with such a fearful situation.  Many others have survived by God’s grace.  We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

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The original recipients of the book of Hebrews were very fearful about what they faced.  Likely, the threat of persecution was growing.  Some were thinking about not continuing on in the Christian life.

One of the ways the author of Hebrews encourages his readers is to remind them: We are not the first. Others have already successfully sky-dived through the Christian life.

He says it this way,

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.(Heb 12:1-3).

The author of Hebrews recognized that his audience might soon be required to jump out of the airplane, figuratively speaking.  But, given that so many have already completed the race (see chapter 11), and above all, given the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can jump with confidence.  There is a great cloud of parachutes that have already floated safely to the ground in front of us.

Fix your eyes on Christ.