Self-absorption and submission pondered...

In visiting with many friends in many places and looking at the struggles they face, I have been struck lately by how universally difficult relationships within Christ's church seem to be in this fallen world.  Why is it our most difficult situations are often not from enemies outside the church, but from brethren within?  As I have been pondering this, I can across this passage in what promises to be an excellent book: Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change (Resources for Changing Lives) by Paul David Tripp. 

In our self-absorbed culture, we need to see the grandeur of this [God's] kingdom.  We cannot shrink it to the size of our needs and desires.  It takes us far beyond our personal situations and relationships. The king came not to make our agendas possible, but to draw us into something more amazing, glorious, and wonderful than we could ever imagine...
~p.4

This left me pondering my own self-absorption, and wondering how many of my relational problems with my brothers and sister in Christ are more a matter of self-absorption and personal agenda than they are matters of the glory of Christ and His kingdom.  Tripp continues:

As we listen to eternity, we realize that the kingdom is about God radically changing people, but not in the self-absorbed sense our culture assumes.  Christ came to break our allegiance to such an atrophied agenda and call us to the one goal worth living for. His kingdom is about the display of his glory and people who are holy. This is the change he came, lived, died, and rose to produce.  This is the life and work he offers us in exchange for the temporal glories we would otherwise pursue.  This kingdom agenda is intended to control our hearts and transform our lives.
~p.5

And as I pondered this, I came across the following video with Randy Alcorn that just seemed to dove-tail with all these thoughts.  The darkest time we experience is the alienation of losing the support and love of our brothers and sisters in Christ, but that is not an excuse for abandoning them and moving on.  There is submission and lack of self-absorption to be learned there.

I will keep pondering these thoughts, and working out my salvation with fear and trembling.  May you be on that same journey, Gentle Reader.


What is the darkest or most difficult experience you have had to date? from Randy Alcorn on Vimeo.


HT: TC

Christ as treasure...

HT: TC

The drama of dogma...

It is...startling to discover how many people...heartily dislike and despise Christianity without having the faintest notion what it is. If you tell them, they cannot believe you. I do not mean that they cannot believe the doctrine: that would be understandable enough, since it takes some believing. I mean that they simply cannot believe that anything so interesting, so exciting and so dramatic can be the orthodox Creed of the Church.
Somehow or other, and with the best intentions, we have shown the world the typical Christian in the likeness of a crashing and rather ill-natured bore-- and this in the Name of One Who assuredly never bored a soul in those thirty-three years during which he passed through the world like a flame.
it is the dogma that is the drama-- not beautiful phrases, nor comforting sentiments, nor vague aspirations to loving-kindness and uplift, nor the promise of something nice after death-- but the terrifying assertion that the same God who made the world lived in the world and passed through the grave and gate of death. Show that to the heathen, and they may not believe it; but at least they may realize that here is something that a man might be glad to believe.
~Dorothy L. Sayers, as quoted in Glimpses of Church History, Issue 246

A little Edwards, anyone?

Last weekend, we had a guest teacher at church who spoke about the amazing theologian, Jonathan Edwards. He also preached an excellent sermon during our worship service. You can listen to all the teaching times here. I highly recommend the sermon, entitled "How Can I Know I am Elect?"

Meet the Puritans

Great give-away at J C Ryle Quotes. Check it out.

Miscellany

I wrote a heavy post on my other blog today, so how about some lighter fare?

Check out the amazing photographs here. Some made me laugh aloud. (Thanks to T.C.)

There's a pretty funny routine here, discussing the way we take so much for granted.

And if you want to appear intelligent, make sure to avoid the mispronunciations listed here.

And if all this is too light and fun for you, be sure to check out the Friday series being run over at Somber and Dull (there are links to the previous posts within today's post.) Randy has given us much good, practical theology in these posts!

Miscellany

I had a lovely talk yesterday with a young homeschooling mom who is pursuing a classical Christian education for her family. How delightful! It has made me think it would be beneficial to write thoughts/inspiration/reflections about my homeschooling journey here from time to time. If any of you who read this blog are aspiring homeschoolers or classical educators, what topics would you find interesting or helpful? Leave a comment or drop me an e-mail.

In the meantime, remember that you can always search the "labels" in the sidebar at the right under Classical Education or Homeschooling and find what I have already posted.

And now for some things completely different...

• There is a fun post here on "Seven Deadly Words for Book Reviews", and I'm afraidf I'm guilty of most, if not all of them! If you don't believe me, just read some of my "Books" posts, and you will see the proof...
  
• I was privileged this week to listen to a series of interviews between C. J. Mahaney and Sinclair Ferguson found here. They men discuss legalism, the cross of Christ, and golfing, among other things. I found the discussion to be challenging and uplifting (I listened while quilting, and so made double-good use of my time!)
• I was reminded by a post at The Blazing Center about a wonderful little work by C. H. Spurgeon on prayer (you can find it online here.) My pastor gave it to me many years ago, when we were dealing with some literal life-and-death issues, and it really changed the way I pray. If you've not read it, take a few minutes and do so!
  
• And this post at Between Two Worlds, with the accompanying music video, made me laugh, but it may just be my sick sense of humor. The author refers to the inane words to a Point of Grace song that they have been playing lately on the local Christian radio station, and I have wondered myself what they thought they were writing... so if you feel like a little jaunt into the spiritual mumbo-jumbo department, head over to the post entitled "Why Should Conservative Evangelicals Have All The Bad Music?"
  

Sabbath Sentiments

"To be skilled in the mystery of Christian contentment is the duty, glory and excellence of the Christian. It is an art which must be learned. Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition."

~ Jeremiah Burroughs,

The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

Tenebrae

On Good Friday evening, our church has a time of reflection called "Tenebrae", which means "The Shadows" in Latin. It is an ancient and simple service of prayer, hymns and Scripture readings that help us reflect on the suffering of Christ and look forward to his resurrection. The service begins with singing, prayer and confession of faith, and then moves through a series of readings with a hymn following each as a response. It is a simple and meaningful service:

The Shadow of Betrayal: Matthew 26:20-25
The Shadow of Desertion: Matthew 26:31-35
The Shadow of Agony of the Spirit: Luke 22:39-46
The Shadow of Accusation: Matthew 27:11-26
The Shadow of Crucifixion: John 19:17-24
The Shadow of Death: John 19:28-37
The Shadow of Burial: John 19:38-42

As night falls outside and we proceed through the readings, the lights inside are dimmed. We end in near-darkness with a reading of Isaiah 53, and leave in silence to wait for Resurrection Sunday.

Maundy Thursday

12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" 13And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 15And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us." 16And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me." 19They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, "Is it I?" 20He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."

~Mark 14:12-21

And so begins many things: betrayal, death, redemption, expiation.

Sabbath Sentiments

With thanks to JT for the link...