On the blogs for 6/28/2010

Wow...it's been awhile since I've posted anything. Things have been pretty busy around here.

Stop chasing success (interesting post about significance)

For the work-a-holics (like me)

Gospel-centrality (this is worth a look)

Substitutionary Atonement - still central to the gospel

Two Wills in God? (want to go deep?)

On the blogs for 6/3/2010

"Let Go and Let God" Theology--good or bad? (interesting)

10 Hard Questions for Leaders (needed to hear this)

The Ministry Divide (interesting article, but insightful)

Don't Waste the Summer

The lazy days of summer! Well, they are on the horizon and approaching swiftly. Summer—time for vacations, lazy days, and generally taking a break from the normal routines of life.

How can we use our summers for the glory of God? This question has been prompted from my reading of a book by John Piper entitled Don’t Waste Your Life. In this book, he encourages readers to spend their lives for that which matters, for that which warrants our most diligent pursuit—that is ultimately the glory of God.

I wonder—how can we not waste our summers indulging ourselves in the pleasures of this world to such a degree that we neglect the most important thing in life—loving Jesus and being on mission with him.

Or, maybe another way to say it—how can we pursue the supremacy of Jesus during the summer months?

May I offer a few suggestions?

One, continue to read & study the scriptures consistently (daily) and spend time in prayer for the spiritual nourishment that is necessary for sustaining our spiritual lives.

Two, continue to meet regularly with the church, even when on vacation. Have you found a church to meet with while on vacation? Sometimes, we take “breaks” from so many things on vacation, but meeting with the church does not need to be one of them (Hebrews 10:19-25).

Three, make memories with our family—that doesn’t mean we have to spend a lot of money, but we can spend quality time with the people who mean the most to us doing things together in a way that honors Jesus.

Four, spend some time in a good book that encourages us to love Jesus more dearly and follow him more closely. Romance novels and trashy, worldly magazines don’t count. Spend time nourishing our souls for the glory of God. I would suggest any of the following books to get you started:

·         

        Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper

·         Radical  by David Platt

·         Crazy Love by Francis Chan

·         The Cross-centered Life by CJ Mahaney

Five, what about a short-term mission project or trip? A great way to serve others instead of serving ourselves. Just a thought.

Certainly this is not an exhaustive list, but it can get us started. My encouragement to us for this summer from the words of John Piper, “don’t waste your summer.”

On the blogs for 5/31/2010

Summer Reading List from Al Mohler

Leadership & Micromanagement (this was interesting)

Younger Southern Baptists & the GCRTF

Preparing Music

Every Team needs a leader (good word)

Preacher as Reader by CH Spurgeon (this rocks)

A Primer on Roman Catholicism, part 3

Simplifying Life (those these were good ideas for personal growth)

What the bible is not (interesting)

Preparing in Private (this is a great reminder--especially for teachers/preachers)

Swimming Pool Discipleship (good illustration)

LeBron Mania -- or, should I say idolatry... (just sayin')

Jesus vs. the American Dream (interesting)

Jesus' Leadership Manual