Axioms For A Great Commission Resurgence

I am encouraged that God is at work. I read a sermon from Danny Akin, the president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (the link is below) and my spirit soared with joy as I read. He very boldly speaks to many of the issues facing the American Church today and I say a hearty, "Amen!" Check it out, but be careful, it will challenge your status quo.

~Jon

http://betweenthetimes.com/2009/04/16/akin-axioms-for-a-great-commission-resurgence/

A Conversation with Death on Good Friday

A Conversation with Death on Good Friday
April 10, 2009 | By: John Piper
Category: Commentary

CHRISTIAN:

Hello, Death, my old enemy. My old slave-master. Have you come to talk to me again? To frighten me?

I am not the person you think I am. I am not the one you used to talk to. Something has happened. Let me ask you a question, Death.

Where is your sting?

DEATH, sneeringly:

My sting is your sin.

CHRISTIAN:

I know that, Death. But that’s not what I asked you. I asked, where is your sting? I know what it is. But tell me where it is.

Why are you fidgeting, Death? Why are you looking away? Why are you turning to go? Wait, Death, you have not answered my question. Where is your sting?

Where is, my sin?

What? You have no answer? But, Death, why do you have no answer? How will you terrify me, if you have no answer?

O Death, I will tell you the answer. Where is your sting? Where is my sin? It is hanging on that tree. God made Christ to be sin—my sin. When he died, the penalty of my sin was paid. The power of it was broken. I bear it no more.

Farewell, Death. You need not show up here again to frighten me. God will tell you when to come next time. And when you come, you will be his servant. For me, you will have no sting.

O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)


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Jesus Wants The Rose - Matt Chandler

This is an AMAZING story! I was blown away!! I think all that I can say is that this sinner - Jon - is so grateful that Jesus loves sinners. ~Jon

Friendship

I have always had friends, but over the last few years, friendship has taken on a much more significant meaning. I guess some of it could be attributed to age. (I'm about to officially enter the "late thirties." Ugh!) But I really believe that these more honest, real life, deep, life-long friendships are from God. Now, if you are a friend from years ago, please don't take offense. This in no way minimizes any friendship from the past. It's just that God has revealed more of Himself in these last few years and He has brought people into my life that have walked that path with me. I think it could be compared to the kinds of friendships formed by those who serve in the military together. There's something life-altering about going to battle together. That is true in a spiritual sense, too. When you have shared life together when life is hard, intimacy forms. When you experience the reality of God together, you are forever connected. This is the life Jesus was talking about in John 10:10b, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (ESV)

I am finding that this is not a new phenomenon. There have always been people who have shared life this way. One group was called the Inklings. This group included the likes of C.S. Lewis (who wrote The Chronicles Of Narnia), J.R.R. Tolkien (who wrote The Lord Of The Rings), and author Charles Williams. I came across a quote from Lewis tonight that was written after Williams passed away and it captures the essence of friendship like I never could.

"In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets. Now that Charles [Williams] is dead, I shall never again see Ronald's [Tolkien's] reaction to a specifically Charles joke. Far from having more of Ronald, having him 'to myself' now that Charles is away, I have less of Ronald...In this, Friendship exhibits a glorious 'nearness by resemblance' to heaven itself where the very multitude of the blessed (which no man can number) increases the fruition which each of us has of God. For every soul, seeing Him in her own way, doubtless communicates that unique vision to all the rest. That, says an old author, is why the Seraphim in Isaiah's vision are crying 'Holy, Holy, Holy' to one another (Isaiah 6:3). The more we thus share the Heavenly Bread between us, the more we shall have." -C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves, pg 61-62

Seeking Bread, Sharing Bread,
~Jon

The Chief Task Of Parenting

I came across this quote that is just too good not to post. I want to parent like this. God, please help me. ~Jon

"The chief task of parenting is to know God for who he is in his many attributes--especially as he has revealed himself in the person of Jesus and his cross--and then to live in such a way with our children that we help them see and know this multi-faceted God." -John Piper, This Momentary Marriage, pg. 144

Mark Driscoll on Proverbs

I came across this message from Mark Driscoll that really is a great intro to Proverbs.

Seeking Wisdom,

~Jon

Wisdom, A Benefit Of The Gospel?

Do you ever read something and think, "why have I never seen that?" That's what happened to me this morning. I read this and the light bulb went off.

"He (God) is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption." - 1 Corinthians 1:30 (ESV)

Did you catch that? A part of what Jesus gives us when we surrender our lives to Him is wisdom! So the gospel is not just exchanging our sin for His perfection, but also, our foolishness for His wisdom.

Lord, let this surrendered fool be controlled by Your wisdom.

~Jon

These thoughts were fueled by a book I am reading...Craftsmen, Skillfully Leading Your Family For Christ, by John Crotts.