Chapter 6 and 7

A breif summary of what we talked about:

We went through chapters 6 and 7. We started talking about forgiveness. Someone started us off by asking what happens if someone doesn't forgive themselves? We ended up concluding that if you don't understand that God's forgiveness surpasses all, it means you don't really understand that God's forgiven you. Furthermore, it could mean that you value your own forgiveness more than God's forgiveness.

We went through more about forgiveness, mainly tangenting what John Piper wrote in each of the sections, why we forgive, how forgiveness brings us closer to God and how we make others glad through our forgiveness. (pretty much all of what he talked about in that chapter).

Chapter 7 was more intense. We started off by talking about how we should live out our lives so that other people would notice the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. We talked also about not just doing things to let other people know that we are Christian (a la Matthew 6), but we should just live it out. We ended up just talking about materialism in the world, how our culture values money because it's the only thing they can turn to. We also talked about giving and talked about how it's more the attitude in our giving that makes it important, not the amount. As students, we may need more money to support ourselves, but if we don't offer to God what is his, and save up just because we want to get more stuff, then we should look at our attitude of giving.

Then we had to hurry because it was already 6:30. We talked about how cool the war-time attitude was and how it gives a different view of the world today. We lightly touched on each of the stories that Piper mentioned, just about saving every little bit, about the diseases being a tool of Satan, about television and internet being a waste of time, about what "cool" means and how values of our culture are so wrong.

Feel free to add anything I've missed!

Chapter 4 - On pain and suffering

What does it mean to suffer? First we noted that the underlying origin of pain, suffering, and death is the fall and sin of man. We saw the distinction between suffering and pain -- in suffering there is the concept of a longer time period, and for specific reasons. At times, suffering results in decisions made by ourselves (both wise and unwise -- an example of the latter is choosing to sin, and thus suffering the consequences of it). Other times suffering comes upon us that we cannot escape. Yet, in God's infinite wisdom, He has made it possible for even suffering to be a "great mercy" -- in the sense that through it, we have the opportunity to see and experience more of the glory of God.

What kind of "suffering for Christ" do we face today? We noticed that by and large in N.A. we will not be subject to the physical persecution that faced believers in other times or are facing believers in other parts of the world today. However, persecution in the social and emotional senses are very real. In fact, it would be quite abnormal for us as Christians to be living in the world and be comfortably pain-free... if we are, we might ask whether we have become so "conformed to the world"! For believers in early church times, the realities of experiencing God's love and suffering for Christ were synonymous. Yet, in our culture, the deceitfulness of the "prosperity gospel" may well have influenced the thinking of many who claim to follow Christ. (Of course, there is nothing wrong with being materially blessed. God may lay certain convictions on our hearts as to how to disperse these resources, and we must act out of a right heart's attitude.)

On a more personal aspect of suffering, what does Paul mean when he writes, "I die every day"? We discussed how this refers to the "dying to self" -- in all things, not I, but Christ. The whole of our "old man" and its nature -- self-will, self-centredness, pride, confidence, and so on -- is being put to death, if only we would submit ourselves to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. This too, is a road of suffering as we learn to yield our own wants and desires to Christ, but the end is far more glorious!

Capitulo 3 – Exaltando solo en la cruz, el centro ardiente de la gloria de Dios

After taking notes from group discussion, and gathering everyone's thoughts, I personalized the following...

This chapter is more focused and more practical, and it is a way to adapt the knowledge of the encouragement of Paul to our daily lives.

What does boasting means? There are two views, the secular one which refers to the self, like showing off. The Christian view of boasting is on the cross, meaning that we are dead to this world and that we should only boast on the amazing display of God’s grace on the cross through His son Jesus. As Piper notes, “boast” can be translated to “exult in” or “rejoice in”. And his encouragement is for us to live a single passion boasting and rejoicing on the cross.

Piper also talks about “tragedy in the making”, when people pursue the dreamed retiring life, having a house in the beach and collecting sea shells. At the same time, on Chapter 2, Piper states that to glorify God is to take delight and enjoy this life at the fullness. What is the difference between these two ways of living life?

Going deeper into this single passion (in Latin, it means “willing to suffer for”), what is it to practically live out this single passion? Can we purely have only one single passion in our lives? Because of our sinful nature, we cannot perfectly achieve to have only one passion, as every single individual has different struggles to overcome. But Romans 12 states to “offer ourselves as living sacrifices” and to be “transformed by the renewal of our minds” that indicates that this is indeed a continuing process. Through this, we can let God work in us so that we can solely focus on Him, and glorify Him in all we do. A practical way is to take Chapter 2, to delight in God in good times and even in bad times (God turned this into goodness). To live a lifestyle of rejoicing in God in every circumstance is what I have experienced to keep alive this single passion in my heart.

Where does this passion come from? It is already there? Or it needs to be built up? Well, I believe that it is from God, as “Christ’s love compels us” (2 Corinthians 14) to do all the things we do for Him. But at the same time, it requires our part to surrender to God in this continuing process so that through the power of Holy Spirit, this passion can grow stronger. Paul encourage us to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13).

The main challenge is to die for Christ. What does it mean? Galatians 2:20 is very clear with the fact that our old self is dead on the cross, while the life we live now is by faith in Christ. The key is faith, as it is by faith and through the Spirit that we obtain righteousness that we hope (Galatians 5:5). This is the first step, to have faith and cling to this hope so that we can persevere in this continuing process of dying ourselves. It is a life process, as I continue to stab my pride and self-righteousness with a knife everyday, and as I continue to give up my rights to be angry, to complain, and to claim what I deserve. Indeed, a big challenge and sacrifice as Jesus said “to deny himself and take up the cross and follow him [Christ]”. This is a tough road to walk, but as we die ourselves, we are gaining the fullness of life in Christ, which is far surpassing better than anything else.

So yeah:

• Rejoice in all circumstances
• Treat life as a gift of God
• Pursue specific ways (or ask for a vision) that this single passion can be fully expressed

Glorifying God

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

chapter deux

You are right Jon -- press on, press on! But I hope you are not equating the Holy Spirit with coffee. For one, the Spirit is much better for your health. :)

We started out by clarifying what message(s) Piper is trying to bring through in this section. It can get a little convoluted sometimes, as he weaves us in and out of his experiences and lessons. but the first half talks of the importance of recognizing the Bible as objective Truth -- not something we can freely apply to our personal situations as we see fit. You will all definitely hear more about this during Sunday's Doctrine talk!

Piper explains the influence Edwards had on him, and how the two "contradictions" finally came together for him -- glorifying God and pursuing happiness is not either/or. It is the SAME thing, because "if my life was to have a single, all-satisfying, unifying passion, it would have to be God's passion...[and] God's passion was the display of his own glory and the delight of my heart" (28).

Like Ken said, that is such a simple & obvious statement... so TRUE...but how often have you thought about it like that?? God wants the best for you -- so he wants you to have Himself. To delight in His glory, and to glorify Him, because He is the best!

If your life is not spent glorifying God & boasting solely in the cross of Christ, then you are not pursuing the best. Your life is wasted.

Well, I think I will leave the responsibility of sharing your own sharings to each of you (does that make any sense?) because my brain is starting to shut down :P We talked about some favourite passages and similes used in this chapter. And we delved into "how can you discern God's will for your life?" which is why I sent out those emails with further resources to check out.

The passage that resonated with me the most was the following (when reading it, I thought, "I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT'S LIKE!"):
I felt like my little brown path of life had entered an orchard, a vineyard, a garden with mind-blowing, heart-thrilling, life-changing fruit to be picked everywhere. Never had I seen so much truth and so much beauty condensed in so small a sphere. The Bible seemed to me then, and it seems today, inexhaustible.

When the Spirit starts aligning your perspective with God's as presented in His Word, the result is phenomenal! It's happened gradually to me for the last few years, but really picked up in the past 2 years or so. If this has not been your experience, PRAY to God that He would grant you the same. He listens to the persistent prayers of the righteous, and you will be changed.

Goodbye little brown path of life!

Karen heart coffee?

hummm...I was wondering why Karen likes coffee so much even put the image on top of this site!? But now I see why, because coffee make us awake, make us aware of life!! so kind of related.
p.s. very thoughtful Karen =)

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UP!! "Toward what is ahead"....Be award that there is a much bigger dream then the "American dream", as Carmen mentioned. Keep running and running...run run run..."press on toward the goal"....Perhaps it is another clue for us to figure what is the Real purpose of life. This is the call from God, is to display His glory. Thanks john pipper..haha

I know it is not easy!! and I always get distracted...Ahhhhhh.....thats why we can't do it alone, but with the help of the Holy Spirit. So yea...coffee coffee...I need COFFEE!!

if I'd known that those notes were going up on "The Internet"...

... I might've wasted more time trying to polish things up a bit. :)
Isn't that what we all do to some extent? Spend time ensuring that our best foot is forward when we think it counts. But when does it really count? Is that time well-spent?
Just some thoughts. Not to say that sending you updates is unimportant.

I think... I just wanted to post something. Haven't done so in a looong time (*tumbleweed*).
This layout is so refreshing. I feel like I'm having a coffee with you, Karen (and everyone else). :)

Alright, here's something of substance so your time reading this is not wasted.
(from the intro to the study guide of DWYL)
A newly retired couple moves to New Mexico to spend their twilight years on the golf course. A middle-aged man labors all day at the ofice to make enough money to provide his family with a nice house in a safe neighborhood and un vacations in the summer. A young student enters college in hopes of gaining the education and skills needed to have a good career. Is this all there is to life? Or did God make us for something greater than the America Dream?

It is our conviction that God did indeed create us for more than the American Dream. Nevertheless, millions of people waste their lives in pursuit of the vain trappings of this world because they never discover the simple, obvious, glorious, biblical reality that "[God's] steadfast love is better than life" (Psalm 63:3). They are never gripped by the truth that "to live is Christ, to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21) ...

Our prayer is that God would use this [book] to awaken in you a consuming desire to not throw your life away on "fatal success." Our desire is that Jesus Christ would explode into your life, unite your fractured dreams and fragmented heart, and produce a single, whole, all-embracing passion for his name. And then our hope is that in this passion you would be set free from small dreams and weak visions, that you would lay down your life for the cause of Christ in the world. As Jesus said, "Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35).

For many, the American Dream is still something to chase after. It's not a vision only for Italian immigrants from the 1950s when they first set eyes upon NYC's Statue of Liberty, as mainstream media would have you believe. Are you falling prey to that "dream"?