In the Old Testament, we read of some very out-of-the-ordinary requests that God makes of people. The prophets Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Elijah, Elisha: if we could talk to them today, all could share stories that we would consider simply bizarre by our standards. Does God call people to do similarly “strange” things today? What does that look like? Why do we think they are strange?
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The ideas posited in John Eldredge’s Beautiful Outlaw represent a pair of glasses. Glasses that, when worn, will inevitably color your reading of Scripture–certainly, the gospels. The argument for these glasses is mostly made from context. That is, it’s more “reading between the lines” of Scripture than reading the lines themselves, but the suppositions are rarely out of line. It aims to change your perspective, and is persuasive not only because I found myself wanting the sections describing Jesus’s personality to be accurate. Plenty of good stuff to chew on here.
Read MoreDon’t be put off by the title. If you are, you’ll miss out on a surprisingly thoughtful narrative of how a small church in Denver–often with nontraditional methods–serves as the hands and feet of Christ. If you’re a Five Iron Frenzy fan, there’s also some illuminating material about how the church’s growth coincided with the ska band’s growth. This is a challenging and illuminating look at gritty, in-the-trenches ministry right here in the States.
Read MoreGreat introduction to Tozer’s writing. A prime example that spiritual books written by “old dead guys” can be anything but stodgy and dull. A call to action and a call to a vibrant personal relationship with Christ.
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Today marks roughly four months from the date when I was devastated with crippling anxiety and panic attacks that left me couchridden for a solid week, the worst I had ever had in years of anxiety, sleeplessness and struggling. If you haven’t yet read my previous post, read that first in the link above. I had tried plenty of methods to cope with my anxiety: diet, sleeping pills, natural remedies, exercise, relaxation, video game...
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