In college I had the pleasure of taking a class called “Officiating Games,” it was there we learned the rules and signals for officiating baseball, basketball, and football. Now I don’t recall everything from class, but I definitely don’t remember being taught this penalty.
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and all your travels were safe. Today’s quote comes from a book that I consider a must read for Christians, Don’t Waste Your Life, by John Piper. While I don’t agree with Piper at every turn I have a great respect for his passion and his commitment the text, among many other things. While there are many great quotes in the book here is one of my favorites:
“I plead with you: Desire that your life count for something great! Long for your life to have eternal significance. Want this! Don’t coast through life without passion. “
Have a great week.
matt
Well I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I’m still trying getting over my “nose job” as the youth at church call it and wasn’t able to fully engage in the eating process like I wanted, but it was good. We hopefully have had the chance to talk with numerous people about the Gospel or at least interact with some nonbelievers. Today I just wanted to give you a space where you could simply post initials of people you have been praying for. Maybe you have hung out with them recently or maybe they are just on your mind. Please pray for: JP, SP, AP, GJ. GG. Enjoy the rest of your Thanksgiving weekend.
Here are some thoughts for this Thanksgiving week, although some of these might be original.
-Surgery went well, at least that is what the Dr. says. I’m still in pain and having trouble sleeping, but they say I will see a huge difference.
-I can’t help but notice all the Christmas music on the radio these days. Can the FCC pass some type of law making it illegal to play Christmas music before Thanksgiving. Last week I was at the mall and saw Santa Claus, really Santa in the middle of November.
-Indiana University could be going to a bowl game for the first time since 1993, I don’t know if you have followed the story of the late Terry Hoeppner, but it is one worth reading.
-If you want to know what will be on sale Friday go ahead and map out your plan by studying up all the sales here here. The bad news is you will have to wait in long lines outside of stores for items that may not be there when you get inside. The good news is the weather is supposed to be nice.
-If you know of any preachers or Bible study teachers who are on your Christmas list let me make a few suggestions: JC Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (39.99 @ CBD), Bryan Chapell, Christ-Centered Preaching, David Powlison, Seeing With New Eyes.
-The greatest show on televison returns in Feb. — LOST. Go ahead and start to mark your calendars.
Well it is Sunday evening and I’m throwing out the quote a bit early today. Now as many of you know if I’m doing something ahead of schedule there must be a reason, and your right. Tomorrow morning I’m going to have a little minor surgery. It is nothing big just some nasal/sinus stuff.
“However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
-Jesus (Luke 10:20)
Here in Luke the disciples had just done some incredible stuff and they came back pretty excited about what they had just experienced. They had gone out with exceptional results, we don’t have the exact numbers, they must not have been Baptist, but we know the demons submitted to them. As they returned Jesus quickly focused them on their greatest joy, their names written in heaven.
This year as you celebrate the blessings of God in you family, your church, etc. It is great to be excited and to be thankful to God, but don’t forget to thank him for the greatest gift Jesus, which enables your name to be written in heaven as well. My hope is that I will find my greatest joy and greatest my source of thanks this year not in a great family, which I have, not in a great church, which I have, not even in my awesome wife, which I have, but that my name is written in heaven.
Happy Thanksgiving
Matt
Well I missed the Monday Quote, I would like to apologize and say that I’m glad everyone still made it through their week. I thought since I dropped the ball on Monday I would bring you a quote about evangelism, a merger of sorts between the Monday and Friday segments.
This quote comes from William Booth, the founder of the Salvation army, and was addressed to the king of England.
“Sir, some men’s passion is for gold, other’s men’s passion is for fame, but my passion is for souls.”
What is your passion for?
I hope this quote challenges you to evaluate the priority of evangelism in your life and in your church. I admit that my failure to share my faith is usually centered around my own selfishness. It was similar to growing up and attending the 11:00 worship service. You would make your way through worship and then at the close of the service someone would respond to the call of Jesus Christ in their life, and what would you think? I remember thinking, “we are going to be late getting out.” Worship was an event I attended and not something in which I participated, it was checklist not a life change. Sometimes when I fail to see people as individuals in need of Christ I’m reminded of that sinful attitude I had in church.
How do you see people? What are you passionate about?
Matt
I have enjoyed being able to turn on ESPN this week and catch a basketball game every night. Although one night I all I could find was NBA, it is great just to see basketball. Growing up Indiana Basketball was a staple in our house, although I went through a period of rebellion where I was a devout Kentucky fan, and you can’t have Indiana Basketball without the fight song. For those of you that ever watched Indiana on channel four you will remember this classic introduction.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did, thanks for sending it to me mom.
Well it has been awhile since I have written on Friday’s, and I pray you have been active in sharing your faith.
Today I want to talk with you about an aspect of sharing the faith that is often overlooked, serving. I challenge you this weekend to find a way to serve someone you know who does not have a relationship with Christ. This might be difficult for some, but be creative. How can you sever them in a way that would demonstrate the love of Christ and provide an opportunity an opportunity to share Christ. Then I challenge you to take this a step further and ask how can you or your small group serve multiple lost people and share the gospel with them?
The message of the church to our world is often come and see, but we must engage and stop waiting for them to engage us. How can you engage the lost culture this week? How can you serve them? how can you pray for them?
I understand that I have not written anything revolutionary and it is nothing that you haven’t heard before. I told you in the very first post I’m not that smart, but I hope you have been challenged and encouraged.
in HIM
matt
Many of you are familiar with the ministry of Louie Giglio. The past couple of years he has gone on tour with Chris Tomlin, Indescribable and How Great is Our God. Both of the talks from the tour are available on the passion website. They would make a great Christmas gift for anyone on your list who is might be struggling with the idea of a Creator.
in HIM
matt
There is so much I could say to try and introduce this quote, but nothing I could say that could add to it. So I will not make an attempt. Sorry it is so lengthy, I just struggled where to stop quoting.
“As a Christian you profess that God controls all things, and works everything to his glory and your ultimate well being. You profess that God is your rock and refuge, a very present help in whatever troubles you face. You profess to worship him, trust him, love him, obey him. But in that moment– or hour, day season — of anxiety, you live as if you needed to control all things. You live as if something — money, someone’s approval, a “successful” sermon, your grade on an exam, good health, avoiding conflict, getting your way — matters more than trusting or loving God. You live as if some temporary good feeling could provide you refuge, as if your actions could make the world right. Your functional god competes with your professed God.”
-David Powlison (pg. 130-131 Seeing Through New Eyes)
Have a great week.
