The Gospel Stops "The Game"

It's been an extremely busy week with work, ministry and errands to run so I'm really glad that it's the weekend (although the weekend looks like it's filling up pretty quickly too)!

I've just arrived at the half-way mark in Tullian Tchividjian's "Jesus + Nothing = Everything", and it's given me so much to ponder, while transforming my mind to comprehend and marvel at the brilliant truth and beauty of the gospel. I've had to unlearn some wrong ideas in my Christian walk, repent of those sins and turn to Christ as my all-sufficient source of grace and power in my life. As the Holy Spirit has guided and brought me to those moments of conviction and change, I've felt free of those shackles and chains that burden the mind and heart.

As an example, in a section of Chapter 7 subtitled "Foolish or Free", Tullian wrote the following words that I found quite personally relevant and convicting:

    "God hates legalism. That message sounds throughout the Bible, and it's certainly a major theme of Paul's, especially in his letter to the Galatians. Legalism insists that my ongoing relationship with God is based on my ability to do good. That approach is always inconsistent with the gospel, and Paul shoots it down in every letter he writes - both through the way he structures those letters and in their content...In his letter to the Galatians, especially in chapter 1, Paul uses the strongest terms possible in exhorting believers to go back to the gospel as the one and only basis for their Christian lives....Paul goes on to declare, 'For freedom Christ has set us free;' and that must include letting go of the burden of having to 'become a better you.'" [1]

It was during December 2010 that I went through a time of some painful realizations and processing of memories and scars from my childhood years. This led to a four-part series of posts as I processed some of my childhood hurts, heroes, and realizations about both:

• Infliction: Childhood Wounds
• Adoration: Childhood Heroes
• Conviction: I'm Not Iron Man
• Salvation: The Guardian

In the marvelous providence and timing of God, while working through similarly painful convictions brought to my attention by Tullian's book, I came across a video recently that told a similar story told in the life of my friend, Hannah. I have known Hannah now for about two years since she came to serve as a staff member for Campus for Christ in the metro Vancouver area. I had always known her as a conversationally witty, easy-going and laid-back woman who is committed to her faith and purpose in life and able to hold her own in a discussion. But as I watched this video, it struck me how little one might be aware of the deep scars of the heart that may lie below a friend's exterior, or their struggles. But as in my own painful episode of two years ago when God gently hammered away at my pseudo-armor and brought down my walls, Hannah's story also reminded of the deep love of Jesus and the tremendous power of His gospel to free us from our enslavement to sin. Here is Hannah on YouTube, recounting her journey in answering the question "Would you rather play and always lose or never play at all?"

Hannah Lee: "Would You Rather Play and Always Lose or Never Play At All?"

Thanks for reading. See you in the next post, which will be carrying some very exciting news! Until then, grace and peace to you.

- The Wisdom Seeker

REFERENCES:

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[1] Tullian Tchividjian, Jesus + Nothing = Everything, Crossway, Wheaton IL, Pgs. 101 - 102

This Just Arrived....

New Arrivals!

Well, I just got home from small group 15 minutes ago, and sipping a cup of my custom hot chocolate mix before heading out for my weekly small group meeting at 5:30.

Before I go, just thought I'd share the contents of a parcel that was waiting for me inside my hallway when I walked through the front door. I guess the landlord must have put them there since they were too big for our mailbox.

I'm excited to have got Ravi Zacharias' new book, "Why Jesus? Discovering His Truth In An Age of Mass Marketed Spirituality." I've been looking forward to reading it since I first heard about it some months ago, and got it from Christian Book Distributors during their special offer last month.

Since there were some other items available on substantial discount, I also got myself DVDs of the movie "Fireproof" and the incredible documentary of "The Star of Bethlehem." I'm looking forward to showing the last one to my small group sometime soon. I think they'll find it really interesting. It amazed me the first time I watched it.

Time to hit the road in a few minutes. I might upload another post tonight after I get back. Till then, God bless!

- The Wisdom Seeker

REFERENCES:
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[1] Fireproof: The Movie
[2] The Star of Bethlehem

Wanted: Courage To Be Courageous

A poster for the movie "Courageous", from Sherwood Pictures

"I will not leave you nor forsake you...only be strong and very courageous...Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9, NKJV

     It's the end of another Monday, and it'll be bedtime soon. I'm beginning to feel sleepy, but I want to write this post before I go to bed. It's been more than a month since I updated this blog, and it hasn't been for lack of things to think and write about. I think it's been a combination of indiscipline and lack of prioritization on my part, while being swamped by the busyness of everyday life. But it feels good to tap away at the keys again, and pour my thoughts out into writing. I think a definite sense of restlessness would pervade my life without my writing; it gives a sense of purpose, passion and above all, pleasure as I've been taking the effort to blog on a regular basis since I began taking it seriously.

     Although there are a number of things I've been wanting to write about (and which I will hopefully get around to in the next few days), this post is about the tremendous impact of the movie "Courageous", which I saw for the first time about two weeks ago after its release on DVD and Blu-ray. It had been in theaters last year when I went to visit my parents in Toronto, and caught my attention because it was made by the same people who created the movie "Fireproof" some years ago. I have now watched it twice at home, and I think I will be watching it a few more times in the weeks or months to come.

     "Courageous" was and still is deeply convicting on many, many levels. It has strengthened my desire to be a man after God's own heart, a man of integrity and purpose, possessing the nobility of conduct that stems from a nobility of character. It has driven home the seriousness of the call and responsibility that God places upon a man to lead, first himself and then others in the roles that he is given as a follower and servant of Christ, husband, father, friend, employee and many others. It has given me clarity and inspiration in my vision of the kind of man that I want to be, the kind of strong marriage that I must actively seek in order to build a God-honouring home and the kind of husband and father that I must become to leave a legacy of faith to the generations to come. Though I have conceptually understood this in my mind so far, I am now coming to better understand why this is important, after having seen it visually narrated in a powerful and compelling story that illustrates the lives of those men that obey and take up the call to courageously lead their lives, marriages, families and professions, and those that abandon and squander the opportunity to make an impact for God in the most important mission that they will ever be given.

     I have been contemplating this movie's message for over a week now, and increasingly so after watching it the second time. God is using it to burn the flame of passion that He has lit in my heart for His truth, gospel and glory and  tremendously shape my decisions and resolve. I'd like to share the music video of a song which is featured on the soundtrack of this movie, and shares its name. This is the song"Courageous", by Casting Crowns:

  

     The  following prayer with which I end this post is inspired by the lyrics of this song: Lord, make us courageous. Oh God of might and power, I need courage to answer Your call, no matter the consequence, or whatever you ask me to give up for the sake of your gospel and kingdom. For the sake of Your name. For the sake of Your kingdom. For the sake of Your glory. In Christ's name.

I want to be Courageous.