Soulful Relationships

I've just finished reading The Relational Soul: Moving from False Self to Deep Connection. All I can say is, "Wow, everyone must read this book!" It is that good and helpful.

Here is a sampling of the deep delights in this work by Rich Plass and Jim Cofield:

"Our relational God heals our wounds, not simply by decree but by inviting us into a participatory life of communion with him."

"The good news of Jesus is not religious doctrine; it is not an idea; it is not a set of beliefs to be embraced. The good news is the loving presence of the Trinitarian God in the person of the eternal Son dwelling within us. We have life in him, not in our ideas about him."

"Our soul has terrain that is deeper than what we think. In this terrain of the soul there is knowledge of truth, love and mercy that is far more than mere information... The soul's deepest terrain is not experienced by more thinking or doing, but by means of solitude and silence."

If you long for better relationships with a spouse or friends, and feel blocked or stuck in those relationships, this book might be helpful. If you want to better understand how God has made us for relationships and why they can be hard, this book might be insightful. You can get a copy here.

Enjoy!

Need for Community

I'm currently reading The Relational Soul: Moving from False Self to Deep Connection. It is excellent and everyone should read it!

The chapter that focuses on "Community" explains the importance of living in community, connected with others, especially a faith/church community. Here's a few quotes from that chapter:

"The church of Christ is the actual expression of his presence in the world." ... "To live in a true-self way we must live in specific, particular, concrete relationships." ... "It is impossible to foster soulful relationships without a real commitment to a particular community of faith. We learn to love by loving real people. No one matures in the capacity to connect well if what we love is our idealized images of others or ourselves."

When I think of community I see a vision of people sitting around a big table, connecting deeply over a wonderful meal. Jesus invites us to the table. Not to sit alone, but to enjoy communion and community with him and others. Zach Williams has a song entitled "To The Table" that sort of paints this picture. Take a listen and ponder how you are doing relating to God and others within real community.

Fixer Upper

My wife and I enjoy watching those TV programs about home renovations. I'm always amazed by the big reveal in the end. The before and after scenes depict wonderful transformations. By far our favorite show is Fixer Upper. Chip Gaines strikes me as the sort of guy I would hang out with. His wife Joanna is often flustered by his goofiness. Much like my lovely wife, who also has wonderful design skills and shares the same birthday as "Jo Jo." If I had a dollar for every time I heard, "don't make that goofy face" I could buy one of those amazing houses!

I'm currently reading The Magnolia Story, written by this house-flipping couple. Embedded in this account of how the Gaines' met and grew their business is another story of growth. Chip and Joanna share several incidents about growing awareness as they work through life together. The awareness of unhelpful perfectionism. The Recognition of how early life events shaped future actions and perceptions. The realization that God is often working in small ways amid difficulty even though it is unseen in the moment.

I lived much of my life unaware. Even after I came to faith in Christ, I was unaware of what was really in my heart and why I was often struggling to connect with my wife, my kids, and others. The work I've done with Men At The Cross has been incredibly significant in my spiritual and emotional growth.

You see, I'm a bit of a fixer upper. Sometimes I feel like every day is "demo day" (fans of Fixer Upper will get that!). God is at work renovating my life. I could show you before and after photos, evidence of God's grace in my life. Even though the big reveal is still a ways off, I am thankful for growing awareness and the lessons along the way. I'm even grateful for the messiness of the process.

Yesterday was my birthday - 52 years of ups and downs, good and not-so-great, as well as very difficult. I wouldn't change anything. Its all part of my story. Its not flawless, but it is perfectly me.

Adversity and Grace

One of my favorite Christian authors is Jerry Bridges. His book The Discipline of Grace has been so helpful in my life. The crux of the book is an exhortation to rest in God's unfailing grace, rather than our daily performance. It is here that Bridges introduces the oft repeated insight that a Christian must, "Preach the gospel to himself every day." Through this we remind ourselves that our standing before God is all of grace from start to finish, and every moment in between.

The final chapter is entitled "The Discipline of Adversity." I can only assume the author put this last because adversity and trials are so dreadful. Passages like James 1:2-4 are easy to understand but hard to apply when the tidal wave of hardship has crushed me.

Here are a few of the closing lines from the chapter:

"Learning to live by grace instead of by performance helps us to accept the discipline of adversity. For one thing, we realize that God is not disciplining us because of our bad performance but, on the contrary, because of His love for us. We also learn to accept that whatever our situation is, it is far better than we deserve."

Keep this in mind when you are experiencing suffering or hardship. Wade out into God's "river of grace" and stand there. Let the current wash away your self judgements as it pushes you further into the loving arms of your Heavenly Father. Preach the gospel to yourself and receive this truth: Nothing "will be able separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39b)

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Power of the Gospel

Today I got a small package from Chapel Library, a ministry that reprints and distributes solid Christian literature.  They provide this wonderful ministry for free!  If you don't know about their work, get to know them today!

Among the group that came in my mail was the small booklet, Greasy the Robber: A True Story of the Power of the Gospel from Siberia in the Late 1800's.  I picked it up, hoping to browse the first few pages to see if I wanted to read it.  Twenty-five minutes later I finished it.  It was such a blessing.  The power of God's word and the depth of God's providence are so encouraging to me.  Even though I have experienced it in my own life, read the Bible for myself, witnessed God working in the lives of others, His grace never ceases to amaze me.

Since the little booklet was so good, I shared it with a friend just minutes later.  I know it will bless him too.  But wait, you can read it as well since I found a link to the PDF online here.

Enjoy the story.  And marvel with me at the Power of the Gospel!

Sharing the Gospel

I just finished reading Marks of the Messenger by Mack Stiles. The subtitle clearly defines this handy little volume, "Knowing, Living and Speaking the Gospel." Stiles doesn't waste words. He strikes at the heart of the challenges facing Christians in the realm of personal evangelism.

There are lots of books available on evangelism. If you are looking for a book that offers you a so called "sure-fire method" or "strategy," look elsewhere. However, if you want to be challenged to better understand the gospel, why we share it and the heart of what it means to be a "healthy evangelist," then Stiles work will be very helpful. Additionally, the author nails down the essentials of sharing Christ in a way that exposes the weaknesses of most overly pragmatic "strategies."

"When our lives are in line with the gospel and our witness to Christ is consistent, we find that our grace-filled lives have perfume-like attraction (2 Cor. 2:16). Don't be surprised at the opportunities God will bring your way to share your faith. And as you share your faith, you become the instrument that God uses to move people from death to life." pg. 58

I highly recommend Marks of the Messenger for everyone who has experienced God's grace in Christ and wants to be able to share that same truth with others. Pastors, you will want to pick up extra copies to give away. It's that good.

W on Keller

I heard an interview with George W. Bush yesterday. I was interested to learn that the former President has been reading some good books in his spare time. Apparently he recently worked through Tim Keller's The Reason for God. This was very encouraging. Yet another reason for me to appreciate W.

Bush called Keller, who is pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC, "one of the, really, most interesting and enlightening theologians of our time." Good assessment.

A Book for Every Christian

I have been reading, and talking with others lately, about church membership. I suppose this line of thinking comes partly from my experience with some church "members." My setting is no different than yours. Our congregation has a core group of believers who love the Lord and are unwavering in their commitment to the ministry of the Body of Christ. In addition, there is a small number who are technically "members" but their participation and actions do not reflect that title. My heart hurts for them and my frustration grows with each passing absence from the life of the Body. While we are pursing a path of recovering those who have drifted from the church, I am also interested in strengthening those who remain firmly within our ranks.

During the SBC I was given a copy of Thabiti Anyabwile's book What is a Healthy Church Member? It is an excellent work that strikes at the heart of genuine church membership. I encourage every Christian to get this book and read it. Because, of course, every Christian should be a healthy church member. The Bible is quite unfamiliar with the idea that one can be a Christian and not deeply committed to a local congregation. Furthermore, healthy members contribute to a healthy church.

Each of us who profess an allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ are called to be His disciples. The making of disciples takes place within the context of the local church. This is a huge task that has been woefully ignored in many congregations and yet it is one of our primary responsibilities. It is my desire to be part of a church that develops not only a love for the lost, but a sense of urgency to disciple and equip the saved. So that every individual part of the Body becomes a vibrant and healthy member.

Book Recommendation

I have just finished The God Who Draws Near by Michael Haykin. I don't have the time to post a full review. However, I would highly recommend it. The subtitle, "An introduction to biblical spirituality" explains the heart of this work.

Many of us have steered clear of the word 'spirituality' because of New Age misuse of this word. The author lays out a biblical foundation that will help clarify what it truly means to be spiritual as a Christian. This is a great read for new believers as well as more mature Christians. Haykin has a way of weaving church history and key historical figures into the book too. The examples of the Puritans are especially encouraging and convicting.

When you buy this book you might want to get two. You'll want to give one away, it's that good.

A Bit Like a Dry Well

As you can see my blog has been pretty quiet for several days. We were busy last week at our church with Vacation Bible School. It was a great week. We had a wonderful group of workers which made the activities go so smoothly.

Most of us experience these times of dryness when our mind is not firing on all cylinders. I've got no fresh insights that I feel like I could share. I have been reading some good stuff. Just nothing bubbling up to the surface and making it to the blog.

I did watch a great little video today that featured Newt Gingrich. He's such a sharp guy on economics and public policy. This particular video focused on lowering oil prices. Good common sense stuff. Something most of the US Congressmen know nothing about.

So much for having nothing to post.

Average Guy Books for Summer Reading

C. J. Mahaney has released his list of recommended summer reading for us guys with "average intelligence" (Source). Even if you will not be doing any reading this summer you should read the set up by CJ just for a good chuckle. He is priceless. It is clear why I like him so much. We are very much the same. (uh hm) Let me clarify. There are a few minor exceptions. He has written several well received books, had a wonderfully successful pastoral ministry for nearly 3 decades, can really preach, pals around with the likes of Mohler and Piper and then...well, there's me. But I relate to him because I too see myself as a very average guy. And I love sports.

Anyway, I may not read any of the books on his list personally, but I appreciate his selections. Moreover, I appreciate the concept behind them. To understand you must read the set up.

By the way I am currently reading The Courage to be Protestant by David Wells. Very good thus far. Another freebie from T4G (thanks so much!!).

When Christians Read

Christians ought to be readers. I have heard individuals say, "I'm not a reader." I sense that some Christians struggle with knowing what to read, so they don't read anything. Moreover, there is that group who will not read anything that does not line up with their entire theology and belief structure. Here is a list of insights found in Foundations for Soul Care by Dr. Eric Johnson. I think this information (which I have paraphrased) will be helpful especially for Christians who find it challenging to know what to read.


1. Regardless of the type of reading material, the goal is always the same for the Christian: growing in Christ likeness. So, what we read should get us closer to this goal.


2. As believers we have assistance, the Holy Spirit. This should be a great encouragement for us.


3. Seek wisdom in the wisdom of others. Reading can serve us well in this task.


4. We must prioritize what we read. Johnson suggests the following hierarchy: The Bible, which will guide us and sharpen us as we read other things; Christian Classics, helpful to expand our understanding of various doctrines. God has equipped many throughout church history, we would be foolish not to read these texts; Other valuable texts, this could encompass a range of genres. Of course we read them through our God-centered lens; Inferior texts, many of these are not helpful reading. Discernment is important here; Bad texts, usually not worth reading. Yet, someone with a solid Christian worldview needs to read these in order to respond to them and educate others; Banned texts, these would be harmful and should be avoided. However, care must be taken not to be over zealous and put everything in this category that is not Christian.

5. Any text we read, save the Bible, should be read with "both trust and suspicion." We read literature, science, non-fiction and all of it with confidence in what we know to be truth. Yet, we ask questions and use discernment realizing that there is good to be gleaned, taking it all captive to Christ.

6. Recognize the value and wisdom of non-Christian texts. Almost like looking at the other team's playbook. This type of reading will sharpen our understanding and maybe even reveal some of our own "blind spots."

The key for believers is to read with discernment. That is why the Bible is our first source. Everything else is read through the lens of Scripture. So, Christian, take up and read.

New Book on Jesus, Dangerous

I'm not shocked or surprised to learn about the new book by Deepak Chopra. He is an MD who also serves as a new-age guru on issues regarding mind-body health, emotional freedom, yoga and the like. He also apparently makes a lot of money speaking, selling books and peddling "spirituality light" packaged for everyone. The sort of stuff that appeals to post-moderns who need to have their religious itch scratched, but not by anything that resembles biblical truth.

Chopra's newest release is entitled, "The Third Jesus: The Christ We Can't Ignore." I haven't read the book, but I did read this review. I suspect that many on the forefront of "engaging the culture" (read Dr. M) will read the book and speak very intelligently about it. My problem is that I can't seem to get through the books I want/need to read. So, I'll leave the heavy lifting to the experts.

I have a concern that there are well-meaning, immature, Christians who will pick this book up at Borders thinking it might be helpful. (I just had a flash in my mind of the robot from Lost in Space: "Danger, danger...") All the more reason for us to be alert to what is lurking in the "religious" shadows.

If you are looking for a good book I hear Tim Keller's newest release, The Reason For God, is excellent. It is written for skeptics and Christians, according to the author. Sounds like a great read to sharpen our apologetic.

Forgiveness

Recently while doing some sermon prep I was rereading portions of Discipled Warriors by Dr. Chuck Lawless. In the chapter on fellowship, "Discipled Warriors Encouraging One Another," I discovered some helpful information on forgiveness (pg. 181). Since nearly all of us will experience hurt and disappointment at the hands of others during our lifetime, this information is worth sharing. It is really a series of self-questions that you may use to determine if you need to forgive someone who has hurt you.

1. Do I dwell on the pain? If so, focus on God's forgiveness of your sins (Luke 7:40-50).

2. Do I avoid dealing with the issues? If you do, in an appropriate setting, admit anger. Bringing it into the light weakens the Enemy's hold (John 8:32).

3. Do I want the offender to hurt before I forgive? If the answer is yes, determine to forgive, even if you do not feel like it. Ask God for the heart of Jesus (Luke 23:34) and Stephen (Acts 7:60).

4. Do I have physical 'symptoms' when I think about the pain? If so, ask God to give you His incomprehensible peace (Phil. 4:7).

Finally, and maybe the most telling for many of us:

5. Can I rejoice if God blesses the one who hurt me? If you can't, pray for the person (Mt. 5:44).

The premise of the book is that our churches have become weak in many areas and therefore vulnerable to the attacks of the Enemy. We are in a spiritual battle and must be equipped and ready for battle. In the issue of forgiveness, there are many church members who harbor grudges and ill feelings about others in the Body of Christ. There is simply no way those individuals will grow and be spiritually successful if they can not forgive. Furthermore, the church as a whole will suffer as a result of these internal battles.

One of the first verses I memorized in Sunday school as a child was Eph. 4:32 which challenges us: "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."

Biblical Counseling

This post on Taylor's blog is very insightful. If you haven't seen the "Stop It!" video you will have a chance to watch it and read comments from Dr. David Powlison.

The video is hilarious. Please take no offense. I am not laughing at folks with real problems. I find humor in Newhart's portrayal of a counselor.

There is much debate among Christians about counseling. Should it be done solely using the Bible? Do pastors dare incorporate anything from secular psychological research as they seek to counsel and do "soul care?" Is there a middle ground? There is a full range of opinions among Christian scholars on all of these questions.

Dr. Eric Johnson, who was one of my professors at SBTS, has written a new book entitled "Foundations for Soul Care: A Christian Psychology Proposal." This book will certainly add valuable insight to this discussion.

Here's what I know for certain: There are a lot of folks in our churches that are broken and hurting and they need godly counsel. Every pastor will be challenged to provide counsel, support and encouragement for these people. Simply giving them a pat answer loaded with Scripture may not be sufficient in every case. Of course the Bible is our primary guide for all things, but it is not a counseling text book. The church must be proactive in the area of soul care or our folks will seek answers someplace else.

Recommended Reading

I have just finished reading The Jesus Gospel: Recovering the Lost Message by Liam Goligher. This is one of the books so graciously given to the attendees of the Basics Conference at Parkside Church in the spring.

I highly recommend this work. It is engaging and well written. Although the topic is deep, it is presented in a very readable fashion. This book would appeal to a variety of readers regardless of their theological acumen. Goligher provides a biblical overview of the gospel with emphasis on the atoning work of Christ. Nothing new or groundbreaking, but Goligher provides some clear insights that remind us why we cherish the gospel and Christ. Put it on your list.