Category: PASSION Resources

Passion Week Monday Reflection

On By BrianIn Holidays

Monday: Preaching – Give all to Him

Read Luke 19:45-21:4

Prayer: Father, they dragged buying and selling even into your house. How easy it is for me to get caught up in the buying and selling of our culture. Help me be like the widow who willingly gave all to you. All that I have is from you; it is yours – do with it as you please. Even my life is from you, and you made me in your likeness, so help me give myself to you – even as your Son gave himself for me. Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: What would it look like to live according to this prayer?

Praise: Sing “Take My Life”

Passion Week Palm Sunday Reflection

On By BrianIn Holidays

Palm Sunday: Praise – Rejoice in the Messiah

Read Luke 19:28-40

Prayer: Father, before the rocks cry out, let me lift up my voice and praise you. Thank you for your mighty works – your beautiful creation, your sustaining hand, your great salvation. Thank you for saving me. Awaken my soul to give you the glory and praise that is due you today. Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: For what mighty works can you praise the Lord?

Praise: Sing some of your favorite songs of praise to the Lord.

Top Books in 2009

On By BrianIn Book Look2 Comments

I have enjoyed reading the top reads from others during the past few weeks, so I thought I would compile my own list of top books that I read in 2009.  All of them encouraged me to live with a passion for God and compassion for others because of Christ’s passion for us.

1. When I Don’t Desire God by John Piper

What about when I don’t have a passion for God?  This book gives some great help to those of us who struggle with finding joy in God.

2. You Are The Treasure That I Seek by Greg Dutcher

How do we fight the many idols that seek to steal our passion for God?  This book has some great ideas.

3. Christless Christianity by Michael Horton

A good reminder that Christianity is first of all about good news, not good instruction; about what Christ did for us, not what we do for him,  about his passion for us, not our passion for him.  The second is our response to the first, and we must be wary lest we forget the first.

4. George Whitefield by Arnold Dallimore

Whitefield had a passion for God and compassion for people because of Christ’s passion for us.  He spanned the 13 colonies, England, and Scotland preaching the good news.  I read 3 biographies about George Whitefield last year, and this was the best.  Looks like Crossway is releasing a new edition in March.

5. Finally Alive by John Piper

A good understandable examination and needed reminder of what it means to become a new creation in Christ.

6. Worldliness edited by C.J. Mahaney

A much needed call to discernment in the areas of the media, music, things, and clothes.  The main question is – where is your heart?

Resolution Questions

On By BrianIn Habit of Stewardship, Holidays

As I mentioned in the last post, I take time at the new year to evaluate where I am and where I would like to go in the coming year.  In examining my life, and considering how I need to grow, it is helpful to have some good questions to ponder.  Donald Whitney has given us 31 great questions to consider at the beginning of a new year.  A sampling includes:

  • What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
  • What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
  • In what spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
  • What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
  • What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

For all 31 questions, visit his site here.

New Years Resolutions

On By BrianIn Habit of Stewardship, Holidays

Every year I make some new years resolutions.  I start by evaluating where I am, and pondering where I would like to be and how I would like to grow.  I then seek to make several resolutions which are broken down into two main categories that follow the theme of this blog and my life.

The first category is “To live with a passion for God and compassion for people.”  Under this category, I have the the following sub-points:

  • By setting my gaze on Christ and spending time with God as his loving child
  • By spending time with my family as a loving husband and father
  • By spending time with others
  • By focusing on Christ’s passion for me (salvation)
  • By living out the commands of love (10 commandments)
  • By living out the virtues of love (Fruit of the Spirit plus others)
  • By practicing the habits of love (spiritual disciplines)

Each sub-point then has a few specific resolutions that I want to live out during the coming year.  Some will be new; others will simply be something I want to continue or improve.

The second category is “To help people and families live with a passion for God and compassion for people.”  Again there are subpoints with specific resolutions under each.  My subpoints are:

  • By discipling my own family
  • By serving in my local church
  • By writing resources for individuals, families, and churches
  • By teaching in various settings as opportunities arise
  • By pursuing continued learning opportunities

I share all of this to perhaps encourage you to evaluate your life, and consider how you might better live and help others live with a passion for God and compassion for people.  Your subpoints may look very different (especially in the second category), and your resolutions will likely be very different (you’ll notice I didn’t even include them), but the point is to evaluate where you are and where you might grow.

A few final thoughts.  First, it is easy to go through all of this and then put your resolutions away and forget them.  I’ve done this.  Don’t do this!  Keep them out where you can see them and review them regularly.

Second, my two categories and their subpoints are very general – the resolutions themselves must be specific so you know if you are accomplishing anything.  At the same time, leave room for adjustments and changes during the year.  Some ideas simply might not work.  God may call you in different directions than you had planned.  Feel free to edit your resolutions during the year.

Third,  don’t bite off more than you chew.  I have a lot of subpoints, but many of my resolutions are to simply to continue what I am doing or change my focus a bit.  Only a few resolutions will be really new.

Finally,  bathe the entire process in prayer and keep praying through it during the year.  It is only be God’s grace that we can grow, so come regularly to the throne of grace to find his grace in your need to grow.

May we grow this year in living and helping others live with a passion for God and compassion for people – because of Christ’s incredible passion for us!

Give Thanks

On By BrianIn Holidays2 Comments

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
How great are your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep!”
– Psalm 92:1-5

God daily shows us his love and faithfulness.  His works are great.  He does great things for us.  Let us give thanks to him!

What is one thing you are especially thankful for today?  Record it in a comment below.

Remember and Celebrate!

On By BrianIn Holidays

Tomorrow is Independence Day.  The day we celebrate the birth of our country.  The day we celebrate our freedom.  The day we remember those who died to make all of this possible.

Sunday we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.  Time to celebrate our new birth.  Time to celebrate our freedom from the penalty and power of sin.  Time to remember the one who made all this possible.

Last Poem

On By BrianIn Biography/History1 Comment

Charles Wesley wrote over 9000 hymns and sacred poems in his lifetime.  His last a few days before he died was this:

In age and feebleness extreme,
Who shall a sinful worm redeem?
Jesus, my only hope Thou art,
Strength of my failing flesh and heart;
O could I catch a smile from Thee,
And drop into eternity!

May we have that same hope when our turn comes!

Together For The Gospel

On By BrianIn Biography/History, Revival

Just finished reading biographies about George Whitefield, Charles Wesley, and John Wesley – the three leaders of the Great Awakening in England.  I confess I was most interested in Whirefield as I am more at home with his theology.  The Wesleys were interesting when they weren’t railing against the Biblical doctrine of predestination or pushing their unBiblical view of Christian perfection.  Okay that was strong – but that was Whitefield’s view.  Of course, the Wesleys thought Whitefield’s views were unBiblical.  And yet, for most of their lives, they were friends.

They met and became friends at school before any of them were saved or famous.  After they were born again, they ministered together preaching the gospel around England (and beyond).  But then, despite Whitefield’s plea, John began preaching against and writing against predestination.  Whitefield felt he had no choice but to respond and defend the doctrine.  The cord of three was broken.  But over time they came together again.  The gospel was central in each of their lives and it was around this that they came together.  They agreed to disagree on the other issues – the main thing was the gospel.  Indeed at the end they were preaching for each other again.  When George Whitefield died, John Wesley led the service in England.  Charles Wesley wrote a long poem about his friend.  In particulars they differed, but they were friends in the gospel.

Which brings us to today.  Calvinism is on the rise – and I praise God for it.  Yet it is often antagonistic toward non-Calvinists.  On the other side is a responding antagonism against Calvinism.  Can we agree to disagree?  Can we come together around the gospel like Whitefield and the Wesleys?  Can we keep the main thing the main thing?  Whitefield didn’t want Wesley to publish against predestination because he didn’t want to divide the church and hurt the revival that was going on.  For the sake of the church, and the hope of revival, can we keep the gospel central and rally around it?

We have much to learn from these men.  For further reading, check out these biographies that I just read:

George Whitefield – Arnold Dallimore (I read the one volume edition, there is also a much more complete two volume edition)

George Whitefield and the Great Awakening – John Pollock

Assist Me To Proclaim: Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley – John Tyson

John Wesley – Stephen Tomkins

Not About Me

On By BrianIn Biography/History, PASSION Quotes

George Whitefield was a great preacher and revivalist who God used along with others to bring about the First Great Awakening.  Crowds of thousands flocked to hear him.  Yet he knew it wasn’t about him, but about Christ.  Consider these Whitefield quotes I found in Dallimore’s Whitefield biography:

“Let the name of Whitefield perish, but Christ be glorified.”

“Let my name die everywhere, let even my friends forget me, if by that means the cause of the blessed Jesus may be promoted.”

“But what is Calvin, or what is Luther?  Let us look above names and parties; let Jesus be our all in all – So that he is preached….I care not who is uppermost.  I know my place…even to be the servant of all.”

It’s not about me.  It’s not about you.  It’s only about Jesus.  Lord, help us share Whitefield’s attitude, and let your glory be over all the earth!