First a disclaimer, I am a moderate baseball fan. I am a devout Atlanta Braves fan starting back when they were still in the baby blue uniforms before all those division titles and pennants, but as far as the rest of the league not so much. I personally could care less who leads the league in anything, unless of course he is a Brave. With that I am sure you are asking why then would he write an opening day blog?
Every year around the first of April the new baseball season starts and it seems all is good in the world. No matter what a team's payroll, roster, or even past records they come into today undefeated with all the potential in the world. Everyone today is a World Series contender, even if only for a few days. It is that feeling I believe that makes opening day great even for those of us that aren't fantasy baseball enthusiasts, or even have a favorite team, the good feeling of equality among all the teams, the potential of every team to be exactly what it makes itself.
While opening day is one of my favorite days on the sports calendar, because of its potential, it pales in comparison to the new mercies of God each morning. Even though we could never deserve it, God grants His children new mercies and compassion each morning. This is an incredible revelation, that sometimes can be overlooked in the daily hussle. Though we are responsible for the death of His only begotten Son, and continue to fall short of His standard for each of us, God meets each of His children at the beginning of each new day with new mercies. How deep the Father's love for us must be! I could never imagine responding to people who had spurned my every advance with such great forgivenss and mercy each and every day. I guess thats just another reason we should be grateful that He is God and we are not, for His new mercies for us each day are so much better than anything we could ever imagine for ourselves...even if it doesn't include a World Series Ring for the Braves.
The question is for us just as it is for every baseball team that plays a game today; what will you do with the new mercies you have been given today? Will you take advantage of your God given opportunities and make the best of it? Here's hoping you embrace God's new mercies for you as you travel the route He has laid out for you from those of us on the Rural Route.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
The Goodness of God and the Problem of Evil
Randy Alcorn, author of Heaven, also wrote If God is Good a book that takes an apologetic look at the goodness of God and all that it entails. An excerpt of that book actually became a book unto itself The Goodness of God. Now if you followed all those book titles and how they came to be, you have earned the privilege of diving into a personal take on how the goodness of God can be reconciled in a world full of evil and degradation.
Alcorn rightly starts in the introduction that these questions are universal for humanity. As we all look deeper into our existence we are faced with the issue of evil and suffering that is around us. It is those issues that lead many to reject the idea of an ever present and good God all together. Alcorn immediately dives into these issues tackling them in depth with not only the truth and wisdom of Scripture, but also a candor and tone that make reading this entire book enjoyable and easy to understand. I would recommend this book for any Christian or really any person who is currently or has in the past dealt with suffering and evil in his life.
Dealing first and foremost with the competing worldviews and how each of them deal with the existence of evil and suffering. Ultimately Alcorn, who is a christian, comes to the conclusion that Christianity provides the best answer available to the issues of evil and suffering.
From that point on Alcorn tackles the intricate arguments with the discussion of Evil and the good and all caring God. Alcorn deals with justice, glory of God, and the purpose of evil and suffering in the life of all man over the next several chapters dealing candidly but gently with each of the questions that are raised most in this discussion.
Overall this is one of the greatest and simplest "apologetic" books I have ever read and would encourage anyone to read it as I believe it advocates the mainstream evangelical stance for the Good God and His allowance of evil in the world He created for His glory.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
Alcorn rightly starts in the introduction that these questions are universal for humanity. As we all look deeper into our existence we are faced with the issue of evil and suffering that is around us. It is those issues that lead many to reject the idea of an ever present and good God all together. Alcorn immediately dives into these issues tackling them in depth with not only the truth and wisdom of Scripture, but also a candor and tone that make reading this entire book enjoyable and easy to understand. I would recommend this book for any Christian or really any person who is currently or has in the past dealt with suffering and evil in his life.
Dealing first and foremost with the competing worldviews and how each of them deal with the existence of evil and suffering. Ultimately Alcorn, who is a christian, comes to the conclusion that Christianity provides the best answer available to the issues of evil and suffering.
From that point on Alcorn tackles the intricate arguments with the discussion of Evil and the good and all caring God. Alcorn deals with justice, glory of God, and the purpose of evil and suffering in the life of all man over the next several chapters dealing candidly but gently with each of the questions that are raised most in this discussion.
Overall this is one of the greatest and simplest "apologetic" books I have ever read and would encourage anyone to read it as I believe it advocates the mainstream evangelical stance for the Good God and His allowance of evil in the world He created for His glory.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
A Review of Desiring God by John Piper
I just recently read Desiring God by John Piper. This book is over 25 years old and is still impacting many, including myself, everyday for the glory of God. Filled with many deep insights and profound statements this book is a good book for any reader who wants to look deeper into how and why we live our lives for Christ.
While I acknowledge that when I picked this book that I knew Piper was a 5 point Calvinist (I am not), yet I was somewhat suprised at just how much of an impact that belief system had on this work. It seemed to me that had Piper spent more time earlier in the book defining the major theme of Christian Hedonism than explaining and advocating Calvinism it would have been an easier read in the early chapters.
Overall I would recommend this book to anyone who has a thoughtfully developed theology so that they might be able to see all that there is to grasp in this book and let their life be changed profoundly as mine and so many others have. I must say that while I don't agree with everything proposed in this book Desiring God changed for the better the way I look at what and how I do everything in my worship of God.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this Review.
While I acknowledge that when I picked this book that I knew Piper was a 5 point Calvinist (I am not), yet I was somewhat suprised at just how much of an impact that belief system had on this work. It seemed to me that had Piper spent more time earlier in the book defining the major theme of Christian Hedonism than explaining and advocating Calvinism it would have been an easier read in the early chapters.
Overall I would recommend this book to anyone who has a thoughtfully developed theology so that they might be able to see all that there is to grasp in this book and let their life be changed profoundly as mine and so many others have. I must say that while I don't agree with everything proposed in this book Desiring God changed for the better the way I look at what and how I do everything in my worship of God.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this Review.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
What Christians can learn from the Volunteer Fire Department
I have recently had the opportunity to join the Volunteer Fire Department here in my local community in east Tennessee. It is an eclectic group of young, middle aged, and older rednecks who come together and give their time and efforts to protect the lives and property of those around them. Now granted alot of the motivation for some of the younger guys is the fact that we get to go fast with sirens and horns and then play with extremely powerful water hoses.
It was while I was spending time with this group today and in the last few times with them that I started to see something. This group that has both Christians and unbelievers alike is actually a great picture of Christ's love in Scripture. How can this be you might say. well look at the words of Christ as He is talking with His disciples in the gospel of John: "This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." (15:12-13)
Now I am not saying that all of the guys in the department are mature discples or even believers in Christ, but I am starting to see that everywhere around us God calls His children's attention to them if they will just look. Yes the Holy Scriptures are the only perfect place to find truth about Christ, His salvation, and the live are to live in light of Him and His salvation, but we can find practical examples of Scripture around us if we would just keep the things of Christ and His kingdom on the forefront of our minds. It does not take a pastor or a Sunday school teacher or anything for one to be able to learn practical discipleship actions, all it takes is a believer that interacts with and meditates on the Word of God and through the power of the Holy Spirit and God's sovereign wisdom in all of creation and you can grow, be strengthened, and challenged in your walk with Christ.
Just an simple observation from a guy looking to see all He can on this the rural route God has placed Him on for righteousness. I pray the grace, mercy and peace of God bless you on the route He has each of you on.
It was while I was spending time with this group today and in the last few times with them that I started to see something. This group that has both Christians and unbelievers alike is actually a great picture of Christ's love in Scripture. How can this be you might say. well look at the words of Christ as He is talking with His disciples in the gospel of John: "This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." (15:12-13)
Now I am not saying that all of the guys in the department are mature discples or even believers in Christ, but I am starting to see that everywhere around us God calls His children's attention to them if they will just look. Yes the Holy Scriptures are the only perfect place to find truth about Christ, His salvation, and the live are to live in light of Him and His salvation, but we can find practical examples of Scripture around us if we would just keep the things of Christ and His kingdom on the forefront of our minds. It does not take a pastor or a Sunday school teacher or anything for one to be able to learn practical discipleship actions, all it takes is a believer that interacts with and meditates on the Word of God and through the power of the Holy Spirit and God's sovereign wisdom in all of creation and you can grow, be strengthened, and challenged in your walk with Christ.
Just an simple observation from a guy looking to see all He can on this the rural route God has placed Him on for righteousness. I pray the grace, mercy and peace of God bless you on the route He has each of you on.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
What I Am Looking Forward To
This morning I was looking forward to a day to try and relax and recuperate from a long week of working on my grandparents house and an interview with a church. Beyond that I am looking forward to the birth of my son in June and between now and then there are alot of unknowns so I am not really actively looking forward to much. That was until I picked up my Bible this morning.
This morning I finished the book of Revelation as a part of my reading plan. Now there is alot that has been said and continues to be said about what everything in the book of Revelation means and stands for. There are churches that represent ages, some say it should be read literally and is yet to come and others say that it is mostl figurative and has already happened. I will not be entering into that discussion here as this is not a place for extensive discussion on eschatological theory.
What I could not escape as I read the last few chapters of Revelation this morning is that Christ is going to be victorious and ultimately already is. No matter how you interpret the book of Revelation one cannot read it and believe it without feeling better about the future whether it be distant or near. This is great news for all Believers, no matter what else may be going on in your life whether it be financial trouble, stress at work, or turmoil in your family it will ultimately be taken care of by the only loving, sovereign God, for He cares for you and provides your every need according to His riches in glory. How refreshing to know that no matter what circumstances and trials may come God is still in control.
This passage did not only bring comfort and excitement however, it brought with it a sobering realization and an urgent challenge. While I am completely ready for Christ to return and reign victorious over all the Earth, there are millions all over the world who have no idea that He came once before to save them from their sins and themselves, and have no reason to look forward to Christ bringing this world to its worshipful end. This sad fact compels me and my fellow believers to rest in the assurance that they have in Christ victorious return but also to lead those who have no knowledge of Christ into that same rest while they have the opportunity to find it.
We all have things we are looking forward to in this life both physical and spiritual and that is great as God has plans to bless us beyond measure in our obedience to Him. There does come with those great promised blessings an urgent need to let other know of those same promises that are available to them just as they are to us.
Just a take from a man that is greatly looking forward to what is to come from my loving God and Father on the rural route to righteousness He has placed me on.
This morning I finished the book of Revelation as a part of my reading plan. Now there is alot that has been said and continues to be said about what everything in the book of Revelation means and stands for. There are churches that represent ages, some say it should be read literally and is yet to come and others say that it is mostl figurative and has already happened. I will not be entering into that discussion here as this is not a place for extensive discussion on eschatological theory.
What I could not escape as I read the last few chapters of Revelation this morning is that Christ is going to be victorious and ultimately already is. No matter how you interpret the book of Revelation one cannot read it and believe it without feeling better about the future whether it be distant or near. This is great news for all Believers, no matter what else may be going on in your life whether it be financial trouble, stress at work, or turmoil in your family it will ultimately be taken care of by the only loving, sovereign God, for He cares for you and provides your every need according to His riches in glory. How refreshing to know that no matter what circumstances and trials may come God is still in control.
This passage did not only bring comfort and excitement however, it brought with it a sobering realization and an urgent challenge. While I am completely ready for Christ to return and reign victorious over all the Earth, there are millions all over the world who have no idea that He came once before to save them from their sins and themselves, and have no reason to look forward to Christ bringing this world to its worshipful end. This sad fact compels me and my fellow believers to rest in the assurance that they have in Christ victorious return but also to lead those who have no knowledge of Christ into that same rest while they have the opportunity to find it.
We all have things we are looking forward to in this life both physical and spiritual and that is great as God has plans to bless us beyond measure in our obedience to Him. There does come with those great promised blessings an urgent need to let other know of those same promises that are available to them just as they are to us.
Just a take from a man that is greatly looking forward to what is to come from my loving God and Father on the rural route to righteousness He has placed me on.
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