WHAT WILL YOU BUILD YOUR LIFE ON?

In Dug Down Deep Joshua Harris shares how we can rediscover the relevance and power of Christian truth. This book shows a young man who rose quickly to success i the Christian evangelical world before he realized his spirituality lacked a foundation--it rested more on tradition and morality than on an informed knowledge of God.

For the indifferent or spiritually numb, Harris's humorous and engaging reflections on Christian beliefs show that orthodoxy isn't just for scholars--it is for anyone who longs to know to know the living Jesus.

Dug Down Deep Chapt. 11-Humble Orthodoxy by Joshua Harris

‘Tis the season to celebrate the advent of Christ. But it’s also the season of shopping, gifts, commercials, and a culture that tempts consumers that they need and deserve stuff.

In Worldliness (edited by C. J. Mahaney), contributor Dave Harvey gives some practical warnings and advice:

Materialism is fundamentally a focus on and a trust in what we can touch and possess. It describes the unchecked desire for, dependence on, and stockpiling of stuff. In some people it’s more painfully obvious than in others. But it pervades every heart.

Materialism is a far deeper problem than having stuff. It’s an expression of worldliness with incredibly persuasive force . . .

Covetousness is a glutton for stuff. Through covetous attractions and distractions within the heart, our stuff takes on meaning in our lives far beyond what God intends. In fact, the apostle Paul makes the point that covetousness is a form of idol worship (Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:5). Idolatrous cravings maneuver our hearts away from God and affix them to things of this world. Hence the ultimatum from Jesus recorded for us later in Luke:

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Luke 16:13).

Covetousness is choosing earthly trinkets over eternal treasure.

Dave continues to describe the chains that bind our hearts to the world:

1. My stuff makes me happy
2. My stuff makes me important
3. My stuff makes me secure
4. My stuff makes me rich

Ideas of what your guard against these things should look like:

1. Consider your true riches
2. Confess and repent
3. Express specific gratitude
4. De-materialize your life
5. Give generously
6. Parents: Guard and guide your kids

Check out Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World to learn more!

This is a portion of an article by John Piper, found in his book Taste and See. In it he talks about one example of an average morning for him in the early 80s.

"Click. KSJN plays softly. Click. I turn it off in three seconds. It is 6:00 a.m. I want Noel to sleep till 6:30. I slip out from under the sheets and quilt and tuck them in around her again. ‘God, I'm tired. Help me.'...

I'm sitting on the edge of my bed. ‘Maybe I should sleep in this morning. Noel can get the boys off for school. I might get sick if I don't get more rest. I'll be more efficient... Get off me, Satan! In the name of Jesus Christ, the Almighty, get off my back! God I'm tired help me.... those who wait upon the lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. The will run and not grow weary' (Isaiah 40:31).

The basement has no heat, but one room is finished and has a carpet and a sofa and a desk. Click. I turn the three-way lamp on low. It is 6:05. The bible is open on the coach from the day before...

‘God, I'm tired. Help me. Please, open my eyes so I can see wonders in your word. Oh, God. Mighty God! Maker of heaven and earth and all the galaxies of the universe. That you should lend an ear to me in this little room half awake."

"Early Morning at The Manse" meditation 6, page 30, Taste and See.

A new shipment of A Gospel Primer for Christians just arrived today and will be available at the book table this Sunday.

Since I read them back to back, I thought it would be interesting to do a comparison of the two books here on the blog. So first I'll go through the similarities then I'll break apart there differences and then I'll give my own personal opinion about both, my fifth grade teacher would be proud.

To start with they are both books that share an emphasis on relationship with God, seeking wisdom, and prayer as the best way of making decisions or "finding God's will." Both are opposed to seeking open doors, fleecing (Which Ray Pritchard deals with in great detail), signs, or dreams. Because of this emphasis both books are extremely liberating in that they help make the decision-making process much easier. In light of this, Pritchard in a list of decision making myths lists "God wants you to know the future" as the number one myth. God did not create us with the ability to know the future, but often we act like we need to see what tomorrow holds before we act. In fact we will never and were never intended to be able to do that. In the same way Kevin DeYoung talks about how when we stress out about decisions we tend to be preoccupied with the future in an unhealthy way with decisions that are non-moral such as whether or not to move from one place to another.

To find the differences between these two books, you need to look no further than their titles. Just Do Something is an answer to a problem that seems to have risen in the Christian cultural landscape today, especially among younger people. We are so preoccupied and worried about finding God's will that that we are too slow to make decisions. DeYoung's theses is that we should repent of our anxiety and "just do something." Discovering God's Will For Your Life talks more about the process of how to make a decision with God's will in mind. That being said that's not to say that Pritchard doesn't kick his reader in the butt to just act, nor to say that DeYoung doesn't explain a biblical way of finding God's will.

When all is said and done, the two books share more similarities than differences (this was always how I liked to start my conclusion paragraphs in the fifth grade) When I step back and try to answer the question of which one I liked better, I would have to say Just Do Something. In hindsight, I think it may have been better if I hadn't read them back to back in order to give a fairer assessment. Discovering Gods Will For Your Life was helpful and I whole- heartedly recommend it. It's just that Just Do Something, in my opinion was a better written book, and smacked my indecisive-young-adult-laziness-disguised-as-spirituality right upside the head. It was a blow that I seriously needed at this time in my life.

So there you have it, my compare and contrast essay of Just Do Something and Discovering God's Will For Your Life.

See review by Derrick Jeror of Just Do Something at Amazon.

Life as a Vapor"The Fierce Fruit of Self-Control

The very concept of "self-control" implies a battle between a divided self. It implies that our "self" produces desires we should not gratify but instead "control." We should "deny ourselves" and "take up our cross daily," Jesus says, and follow him (Luke 9:23)

The path that leads to heaven is narrow and strewn with suicidal temptations to abandon the way. Therefore Jesus says, "Strive to enter through the narrow door" (Luke 13:24). The Greek word for strive is agonizesthe in which you correctly hear the English word "agonize."

We get a taste of what is involved from Matthew 5:29, "if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away." This is the fierceness of self-control. This is what is behind the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:12, "the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force." Are you laying hold on the kingdom fiercely?...

Fundamental to the Christian view of self-control is that it is a gift. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit... How do we "strive" against our fatal desires? Paul answers: "I labor, striving according to his power, which mightily works within me" (Colossians 1:29, NASB). The key is "according to his power." He "agonizes" by the power of Christ, not his own. Similarly he tells us, "if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" (Romans 8:13)... We must be fierce! Yes. But not by our might...

And how does the spirit produce this fruit of self-control in us? By instructing us in the superior preciousness of grace, and enabling us to see and savor (that is "trust") all that God is for us in Jesus..."

Piper, John, "The Fierce Fruit of Self-Control," Life As A Vapor, 2004, Multnomah Publishers Inc, Chapter 26.

• John Piper, Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ
• Cutis Allen, The Process of the Pardon
• John Stott, The Cross of Christ
• Mark Driscoll, Death By Love
• Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer
• John Reilly, The song Sunlight
• C.H. Spurgeon, Discovering the Power of the Cross of Christ

Thats where Randy Alcorn came in (my long-time aid in helping me understand and long for eternity) with his book Why Pro-Life. What I found in this book was quite helpful. In the beginning of the book Randy says this: "Though I am a Christian I don't make many aguments from the Bible in this book. The case I present is grounded in mediceal science and reliable psychological studies." By doing this, he can present the Pro-Life argument in a clear, concise way that is capable of convincing both those on the fence about this issue and those who have chosen the easily accessible Pro-choice agument.

Alcorn's argumentation begins with defining life scientifically, correcting our definition of words like "embryo" and "fetus", and talking about how the unborn baby (or fetus - meaning "offspring" or "little one" in latin) is not just a part of the mother's body, but a separate human being with its own DNA. After firmly establishing this point he goes on to talk about the mother and asks this question: "If a pregnant woman can not fully participate in society, then isn't the solution changing society rather than killing children?". Alcorn also explains that the real offence against women's rights is that, around the world, abortion "is the single greatest means of robbing women of the single greatest right - the right to life." Alcorn then goes on to answer other common questions that rise, effectively confronting all the "what if" scenarios that are often raised against the Pro-life view.

Alcorn closes the book urging his readers to do something about the single greatest human rights issue of our day. He has definitly helped me to begin to pray about how I might help end this moral atrocity that is plaguing a country that claims to love wisdom and reason. I more than encourage you to read this book - I urge you to allow yourself to be inspired by it.

Why Pro-Life is a small book available at the book table for an equally small price of just $5.

Death By Love, Letters From The Cross is now my favorite book.

Death by love is a new book written by Mark Driscoll pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. He is aided by his friend Gerry Breshears who is professor of Theology at Western Seminary. Death by Love is also a part of the Re:lit series, a division of Crossway Publishers.

The book is set up as a collection of letters from Mark Driscoll to someone in his church, or someone he has come in contact with. Each chapter starts with Mark letting the reader know the situation, he brings us into the lives of many lost and hurting people who are failing to see the dying Savior on the cross. Then he shows us his letter to that person which deeply and insightfully opens the reader's eyes to many different aspects of the riches of the Cross of Christ. He talks about many of the implications of the gospel such as: Christ being our substitionary atonement, our Christus Victor, our redemption, our new covenant sacrifice, our gift righteousness, our justification, our propitiation, our expiation, our unlimited limited atonement, our ransom, our reconciliation, and our revelation. Each chapter is then followed by Gerry Breshears answering a few commonly asked questions about that chapter's particular focus.

This book has made my heart sing for joy at the thought of God's mercy and grace towards me, a filthy sinner. This book has made me realize more than ever that I truly deserve to drink the cup of God's wrath. It has made me love even more the One who has taken every last drop of that cup so that I do not have to. With each chapter, I was dragged through the depths of sin, the depravity of mankind was ripped open in front of my eyes and still with each chapter my eyes were drawn to the Cross. As I closed the Book at the end of each chapter my heart was racing and the only response that seemed right was to burn with white hot worship of my truly wonderful savior, my justification, my propitiation, my ransom, my King!

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
(Ephesians 3:14-18)

Check it out online Click here

Death By Love is coming soon to the Grace Community book table!