Some very intriguing proposals from John Piper on how to best spend the economic stimulus that most of us will be getting back from the government:
For a moment, forget the political puzzle of getting money back when the country is nine trillion dollars in debt. The more immediate question is: How will you make much of Christ with your “economic stimulus payment”? The president says it will be in the mail in time for Cinco de Mayo.
Clue: Nobody in the world will see you spend your money on yourself and conclude that Christ is your treasure. They will assume you are just like them, no matter how loudly you thank God for this boon. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t spend it on yourself (the way we do with most of what we earn). Not everything we do can look different from the world—eat, pay utilities, fill up the car, wear clothes (even thrift-store clothes). And yes, we hope (somehow) that spending on ourselves in some way contributes to our being more Christ-exalting people.
But do we really need this money? Very few do. We would have gotten on fine without it. If we didn’t know it was coming, we wouldn’t even be feeling the desires we are feeling right now.
May I encourage you to be radically creative and hedonistic. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). And those crazy Macedonians in a “severe test of affliction” and in “extreme poverty” had an “abundance of joy” that overflowed in a “wealth of generosity.” They even begged Paul “for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints” (2 Corinthians 8:2-4). They really believed what Jesus said. Really.
Before the check comes dream of some person or ministry which might make much of Christ because you treasured him above your next home project.
The reason God created money and enabled us to earn it is so that we could show by the way we use it that money is not our treasure, Christ is. That’s why the checks are coming. So we can make Christ look great.
“Be content with what you have, for he has said,
‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
The last year or so of my life has seen it’s share of changes, some for the better and even those that didn’t seem so good at the time have turned me for the better. I’ve enjoyed my first year of marriage and couldn’t ask to be blessed with someone more wonderful than Rebecca. I left my old Job and am starting a company (btw-I’ve learned that the phrase “I’m starting a company” can continue to be used as long as you feel the need to). My wife and I left a hurtful situation at a church that we were heavily involved in. We still miss many things about the place, but are growing in the humility that comes with embracing the reality of the Gospel–something we have realized we have so easily overlooked in many ways for far too long. It’s easy to get “cut in on” as Paul says (Gal. 5:7) and lose sight of the wonder of the cross–Christ as our righteousness, trading it instead for man’s view of what makes us right with God.
One of the joys of my business is that I can work from pretty much anywhere, something I’m going to take advantage of in my new home in Rome. I’m planning on taking up residence in a little coffee shop and/or book store, get involved in a genuine real way in people’s lives, and share the love of Christ–the love that caused him to become nothing so that he might be glorified by the lives of the redeemed (Phil. 2:1-11).
I’ve been reading “The Reason for God” by Tim Keller with some friends of mine and have been reminded and growingly blown away how he approaches the lost–with an exposition on the Gospel that dismantles the presumptions of the even the stanchest of atheists–while diminishing the pride of even the proudest of Christians. It will be a huge resource I’m bound to return to time after time when stepping out onto this new mission field of life.
Pray for me as I return to a mission field I have fond memories of from times past–the starbucks/barnes & noble. Pray that I won’t just be “that christian guy” that hangs out and annoys people that are trying to enjoy their coffee. I don’t want to approach the lost from my “superior” condescending spiritual view point. Instead I want to approach the lost from the perspective of a gospel-saturated broken servant who knows how much I NEED Christ.
Here is a list of some good practical suggestions from Bill Bright’s todayspromise.com on spending time in God’s word:
Begin with a prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you an understanding of God’s Word.
Keep a Bible study notebook.
Read the text slowly and carefully; then reread and take notes.
Find out the true meaning of the text. Ask yourself:
(a) Who or what is the main subject?
(b) Of whom or what is the writer speaking?
(c) What is the key verse?
(d) What does the passage teach you about Jesus Christ?
(e) Does it bring to light personal sin that you need to confess and forsake?
(f) Does it contain a command for you to obey?
(g) Does it give a promise you can claim?
List practical applications, commands, promises.
Memorize the Scriptures – particularly key verses.
Obey the commands and follow the instructions you learn in God’s Word.
For many years now, with much thanks to people like Trent McEntrye of Campus Crusade for Christ in Atlanta, I’ve been deeply gripped by the message of the Gospel as being the wellspring of purpose and meaning for all parts of my life. Several years ago Trent introduced me to his church, which in turn introduced me to the preaching ministry of John Thomas. Trent always said that his then pastor got much if not most of the content of his sermons from Tim Keller at Redeemer Pres in NYC and he wasn’t kidding.
Lately I’ve been listening to a good bit of stuff from Keller and the similarities are uncanny. Really there are still a lot of differences stylistically, but the same philosophy of ministry is still in everything they say. Basically everything that they say in their sermons is a narrative of the Gospel. Meaning, the Gospel isn’t just this other thing that happened that we should remember as Christians, but instead that every biblical story is an exposition of the Gospel, everything we think, say or do can be boiled down to our understanding, or lack thereof, of the Gospel.
Needless to say, I’m very grateful for both Preaching ministries and happy to share a link I just came across that has tons of Tim Keller Resources. So please enjoy by clicking HERE
I just watched without a doubt, the absolute best talk I’ve ever heard given on the state of our culture and how best we as Christians can relate the Gospel to those around us. It is Tim Keller speaking at the Desiring God Conference in 2006. If you have some time to kill watch it. If you don’t have the time, I beg you still to make the time to watch it–especially if you are currently serving in any decision making role at your church. It’s was just so rich and satisfying to hear, so much so that I even ordered the new book by the same title off of amazon.
Oh yes, the Piggly Wiggly. Little know the historical significance of the Piggly Wiggly as being the first true self-service grocery stores ever. This little piece of history will probably remain tucked away from the knowledge of most, but no not for me.
Soon my wife and I will be moving to Rome, GA, which is certainly known for other things besides having a Piggly Wiggly (which is one of the cleanest stores I’ve been in I might add). This little piece of heaven will be right down the road from us–something I will gladly take in the place of the carcinogenic stench bellowing from the chemical plant near our current residence in the southern part of Cartersville and the super redneck woman across the street that yells for her (unleashed) dog at all hours of the night.
My wife has worked in Rome going on 2 years now and with my business I can work pretty much from anywhere. So, when considering how much money we would save by living there, the much shorter drive for my wife, and everything else we decided it was time to pack up and head out.
I’m looking forward to the move. As one of my friends put it, “Rome exists far enough from the gravity of Atlanta to have developed kind of a culture of its own”. I suppose we will find out how we feel about the place pretty soon.
My company has had the privilege of developing and recently releasing a new site for syndicated radio show host and all-around money guru Clark Howard. Clark needed a new site to replace his aging autographed book website and of course we were happy to help. Much thanks go out to Tim Harman Photography for all of the photos on the site and my buddy Joel for deciding to give us a shot at helping Clark out.
A quote from Piper’s blog today quoting Jonathan Edwards echoes Paul’s deep longing to express that the only thing he has to boast in is the cross (Galatians 6:14).
All gracious affections that are a sweet odor to Christ, and that fill the soul of a Christian with a heavenly sweetness and fragrancy, are broken hearted affections. A truly Christian love, either to God or men, is a humble broken hearted love. The desires of the saints, however earnest, are humble desires. Their hope is a humble hope; and their joy, even when it is unspeakable, and full of glory, is a humble broken hearted joy, and leaves the Christian more poor in spirit; and more like a little child, and more disposed to a universal lowliness of behavior.
When we live a life humbled by the reality of the cross, where everything that seemed worthy about us died with Christ, we have nothing left but to find meaning in humbly accepting the adornment of worth and satisfaction that comes from knowing Christ. Outward appearances (Galatians 6:12) clothes, hair, suits, ties, jeans, shoes, circumcision (as in Paul’s day), and whatever else would deem you cool, uncool, or righteous by others matter none. There is no “Sunday’s Best”. There is no Sunday’s worst. Because, without the clothing of Christ’s righteousness, we would be left cold, naked, and blind–attempting to warm ourselves with the foolish pride that accompanies a boasting heart.
