X-TRA

Having been quite busy with schoolwork, I haven't had much time to post things. But here's an interesting conversation between LZ Granderson and Matt Wittmer. Here's LZ's post on CNN, to which Wittmer responds.

Jealous Love - A few thoughts about God's love.

Praising God through Sports - This has really changed my view of 'excellence". Awesome.

Small History of Christianity - Some history set straight.

Daily Life of the Pope - If you really want to know more about the Pope, this is for you. I ran across it at another blog.

Tempted and Tried. A book I want to get. With snakes and mopeds, this looks like a good read!

     "Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret." - Ambrose Bierce

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread is sent to my home every three months by RBC Ministries. It's a devotional booklet with short little, well, devotions. I enjoy reading them sometimes and I want to share them at least once a week. So here's one for today:

At the beginning of March, my friend began a countdown. Marked on the calender in her office were the 20 days left until the first day of spring. One morning when I saw her, she volunteered, "Only 12 more days!" A few days later, "Only 6!" Her enthusiasm started to rub off on me, and I began to keep track as well. "Just 2 more days, Jerrie!" "I know!" she beamed.

As believers, we have something to look forward to that is even more exciting than the anticipation of budding flowers and lots of sunshine after a long winter. God has made many promises in His Word, and each one has been or will be fulfilled. But the certainty that Christ will return is one of the greatest promises of all. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God...Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air," and we'll be with Him forever (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

Although no one can know the exact day, we have God's promise that Jesus will come back (Acts 1:7-11). As we celebrate easter during this spring, let's encourage each other in anticipation of that day! --Cindy Hess Kasper

Book Review - Disciplines of a Godly Man

Another book that has shaped my way of thinking--especially on the subject of discipline.

Title: Disciplines of a Godly Man
Author: Kent Hughes
Publisher: Crossway
Pages: 304

I know 304 pages might sound intimidating to some of you but I have some good news: It's not actually 304 pages. That is, the content of the actual book isn't. Over 85 pages of the book are bonus materials (resources, testimonies, and cited sources, questions). Really, this book isn't all that intimidating by size.

So who's Kent Hughes? Well, he was the Senior Pastor of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois for 27 years. I say 'was' because he retired from the role near the end of 2006. Not only was he pastor, but a proficient author at the same time. He has written seven books himself, while also being a major contributor to the Preaching the Word Series project. He was truly disciplined in his life to accomplish so much. He shares the insights about discipline, that he found in Scripture, in this wonderful book.

X-TRA

I t's been a long time since I posted a X-TRA. I haven't had many things to post as well as time. On the other hand, school will be over soon so that will help. Hopefully soon (next post), I will write a small review of Disciplines of a Godly Man by Kent Hughes. Here's some links for today:

Calvin and Hobbes - Calvin and Hobbes have a new comic--about the economy. I found it a little funny.

Why I believe the Bible - Check this out.

Hardest Languages to Learn - Interesting infographic!

The Last Week - The last week of the life of Jesus. This is really interesting--if you can follow it.

A video that speaks of one of the most relevant commandments in the 21st century. Enjoy.

"Words are like leaves and where they most abound, much fruit of sense beneath is seldom found." -Alexander Pope

Why Don't We Evangelize?

Many people are fearful of evangelizing. 

Why don't we evangelize? Here are 5 of our basic excuses according to Mark Dever:

Basic Excuse #1: "I don't know their language."
Now, a language barrier is an impressive excuse. And it's got to be about the best on. If you're sitting next to people who only speak Chinese or French, you don't have much of an opportunity to share any news with them, let alone news about Christ and their own soul. Of course, you can work to learn another language and so be able to share with many other people. You can keep around Bibles or evangelistic literature in other languages to give away as you have opportunity. But ever since the Tower of Babel, the "I don't know" has been one of the most legitimate excuses we could imagine. Paul warns the Corinthians of the uselessness of speaking words that are unintelligible to someone (1 Cor. 14:10-11, 16, 23). After all, the whole point of our using words is to be understood!

Basic Excuse #2: "Evangelism is illegal."
In some places, evangelism is illegal. There are countries around the world in which tyrannies of darkness reign. They might be atheistic or Muslim, secular or even "Christian" (in name). But in many countries, sharing the evangelical gospel is forbidden. And it certainly is not to be believed by people who are not already confessing Christians! In such countries, you can usually go out and evangelize--once. It's the second or third time that might be prevented by social pressure, or laws, or jails, or guns. Not many of us reading this are probably in that position though.

Book Review - Humility: True Greatness

This book has truly been a blessing in my life. So thus, let's get to the basics:

Title: Humility: True Greatness

Author: C.J. Mahaney

Publisher: Multnomah

Pages: 172

Although this book is 172 pages, it is quite the quick read. It is smaller than a regular book, so it's really about 90 regular sized pages. You could say that it is 'short and sweet'. You could also say it's quick to the point. 

So who's C.J. Mahaney? Well, he's a 57 year old leader of Sovereign Grace Ministries and former Pastor of Covenant Life Church. But the most important thing is that Mr.Mahaney is not humble. At least, that's what he would tell you. And thats one of the reasons he's well qualified to write this book.

The G.O.S.P.E.L

Here's the Gospel in 5 minutes. Normally I dont find any hip-hop or rap that has a Christian theme, so when I saw this it was a first. I enjoyed it, as it tells the story of the Gospel rightly. Hope you enjoy.

"My dear Jesus, my Savior, is so deeply written in my heart, that I feel confident, that if my heart were to be cut open and chopped to pieces, the name of Jesus would be found written on every piece." -St. Ignatius

Infinite Obligations

Sometimes I don’t realize the weight of sin. Sometimes, when I commit a subtle ‘little’ sin such as anger in my heart, I shrug it off. Jonathan Edwards brought this to my attention:

“The crime of one being despising and casting contempt on another, is proportionably more or less heinous, as he was under greater or less obligations to obey him. And therefore if there be any being that we are under infinite obligations to love, and honor, and obey, the contrary towards him must be infinitely faulty.

Our obligation to love, honor, and obey any being is in proportion to his loveliness, honorableness, and authority…But God is a being infinitely lovely, because he hath infinite excellency and beauty…

So sin against God, being a violation of infinite obligations, must be a crime infinitely heinous, and so deserving infinite punishment…The eternity of the punishment of ungodly men renders it infinite…and therefore renders no more than proportionable to the heinousness of what they are guilty of."

As I read these words, the weight of sin increased. I'm not speaking of any burden upon myself, no definitely not, but increased in the sense that I shouldn’t think that ‘Oh, this is just a little sin, I’m going to commit it’. Each sin does have infinite obligations, ‘little’ or ‘big’.