Friday, November 28, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Book: "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper
This book was originally recommended to me by my pastor. Specifically, he recommended chapter 8 "Making Much of Christ 8 to 5." Hopefull he recommended it to solidify for him what we where discussing. Yet, quite possibly I did not to a good job clarifying my point of our discussion and the recommendation was a way to end the conversation. He was possibly wanting me to read the rest of the book and felt my pig-headedness was an adherence, but he knew I could not resist such a chapter title by this author.
This was in February of 2007 and I did read the chapter. Until almost the last paragraph, I was in near complete agreement and then Dr. Piper wrote, and I quote, "we should not assume that teachers and carpenters and......CPAs and doctors and.......should do their work in America. That very vocation may be better used in a country that is otherwise hard to get into, or a place where poverty makes access to the Gospel difficult. On this way the web of relationships created by our work is not only strategic but intentional."
Ouch. That says volumes to me; my job might not be as important to spreading the Gospel here as it would be in another country? I have to put a question mark because I'm a bit disappointed at Dr. Piper for saying such without a much better qualifying clarification.
This statement, taken in context by itself, and others that make such statements water down the importance of my job as a means of worship and ministry. With a few exceptions, any career or job that is heavenly minded is a ministry. Yet, any career or job not heavenly minded is not a ministry. As an accountant, or CEO, or janitor, or vocational minister is dependent upon one's ulitmate purpose for doing the job. Obviously, I've digressed somewhat into more personal viewpoints.
11/15/2008: Halfway through the book, I'm thoroughly enjoying the rest of it. Dr. Piper brings some good thoughts that I need to struggle through and get a grip on. The chapter on "The Goal of Life - Gladly Making Others Glad in God" was good to read. On page 103 he writes...
We cannot make anyone glad in God. "Joy in God is a fruit of the Holy Spirit" (Galatians 5:22). It is called the "the joy of the Holy Spirit" (I Thessalonians 1:6). It is the work of God: "May the God of hope fill you with all peace and joy" (Romans 15:13). It is effect of God's grace (2 Corinthians 8:1-2)......Nevertheless, even though joy in God is ultimately a fight of God, he uses means to bring people into the fullnes of it. Paul described his whole ministry as laboring for the joy of others. "Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy" (2 Corinthians 1:24).
This brings it home for me; my daily life. Right where I'm at in my sphere of influence and control. Struggling or not with the future, but not worrying about tomorrow, living my life for Christ today in the midst of LIFE. Embracing the struggles and not running from them; searching the matter out - seriously considering what God has in store for me in each event. Looking back over the past hours, days, and years and considering God's lessons.
This, I pray, is a life not wasted.
11/23/2008: Good book. Lot's to dig around in and work-out on in your head and heart. Though Dr. Piper has a bent towards foreign missions, I believe he does understand that not everyone is called to that field, but instead to be engaged where they find themselves.
Dr. Piper does a great job at laying some of the struggles we have with life and what causes it be wasteful, or not.
I pray that my best is not "sea shells" on show and tell day.
This was in February of 2007 and I did read the chapter. Until almost the last paragraph, I was in near complete agreement and then Dr. Piper wrote, and I quote, "we should not assume that teachers and carpenters and......CPAs and doctors and.......should do their work in America. That very vocation may be better used in a country that is otherwise hard to get into, or a place where poverty makes access to the Gospel difficult. On this way the web of relationships created by our work is not only strategic but intentional."
Ouch. That says volumes to me; my job might not be as important to spreading the Gospel here as it would be in another country? I have to put a question mark because I'm a bit disappointed at Dr. Piper for saying such without a much better qualifying clarification.
This statement, taken in context by itself, and others that make such statements water down the importance of my job as a means of worship and ministry. With a few exceptions, any career or job that is heavenly minded is a ministry. Yet, any career or job not heavenly minded is not a ministry. As an accountant, or CEO, or janitor, or vocational minister is dependent upon one's ulitmate purpose for doing the job. Obviously, I've digressed somewhat into more personal viewpoints.
11/15/2008: Halfway through the book, I'm thoroughly enjoying the rest of it. Dr. Piper brings some good thoughts that I need to struggle through and get a grip on. The chapter on "The Goal of Life - Gladly Making Others Glad in God" was good to read. On page 103 he writes...
We cannot make anyone glad in God. "Joy in God is a fruit of the Holy Spirit" (Galatians 5:22). It is called the "the joy of the Holy Spirit" (I Thessalonians 1:6). It is the work of God: "May the God of hope fill you with all peace and joy" (Romans 15:13). It is effect of God's grace (2 Corinthians 8:1-2)......Nevertheless, even though joy in God is ultimately a fight of God, he uses means to bring people into the fullnes of it. Paul described his whole ministry as laboring for the joy of others. "Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy" (2 Corinthians 1:24).
This brings it home for me; my daily life. Right where I'm at in my sphere of influence and control. Struggling or not with the future, but not worrying about tomorrow, living my life for Christ today in the midst of LIFE. Embracing the struggles and not running from them; searching the matter out - seriously considering what God has in store for me in each event. Looking back over the past hours, days, and years and considering God's lessons.
This, I pray, is a life not wasted.
11/23/2008: Good book. Lot's to dig around in and work-out on in your head and heart. Though Dr. Piper has a bent towards foreign missions, I believe he does understand that not everyone is called to that field, but instead to be engaged where they find themselves.
Dr. Piper does a great job at laying some of the struggles we have with life and what causes it be wasteful, or not.
I pray that my best is not "sea shells" on show and tell day.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
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