Friday, August 03, 2007

christian spirituality

Blue Like Jazz....if you haven't read it, I recommend it. It really turns on your 'ponderer' or maybe you have a 'muser' or perhaps a 'thought provoker'. Anyways, it's a good book. Easy reading and refreshingly real. (the word 'crap' is in there several times, and he talks about beer and smoking)

I can't say I'm 100% on the same train as Don Miller but he definitely brings some fresh light on things. It's not really a highlighting kind of book but I did mark a few things that struck me as profound. Here's a few...

I believe that the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time. This is why the devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious. If he can sink a man's mind into habit, he will prevent his heart from engaging God.

Because of sin, because I am self-addicted, living in the wreckage of the fall, my body, my heart, and my affections are prone to love things that kill me.

I don't think any church has ever been relevant to culture, to the human struggle, unless it believed in Jesus and the power of His gospel.

...this is precisely why we attempt to chart God, because we want to be able to predict Him, to dissect Him, to carry Him around in our dog and pony show. We are too proud to feel awe and too fearful to feel terror. We reduce Him to math so we don't have to fear Him, and yet the Bible tells us fear is the appropriate response, that it is the beginning of wisdom.

I think that the most important thing that happens within Christian spirituality is when a person falls in love with Jesus.


Yeah, some really good stuff.

6 comments:

Chelle said...

Great thoughts. I always love hearing about what you're reading.

Cindy-Still His Girl said...

I really want to read this. I think my husband did it in a book club; maybe he has the book laying around somewhere! I also loved Messy Christianity; have you read that one?

Anonymous said...

I really liked the last quote. Falling in love with Jesus. That is when things change.

Cool.

javamamma said...

Cindy: Haven't heard of 'Messy Christianity' but I'll have to check into it. Thanks!

Gayle @ thewestiecrew said...

"I believe that the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time."
OUCH! That one sure hit home. :(

ConservaChick said...

Oh, just when I promised to take a break from books. Oh remind me of this book in a few months, I WANT to get it.
THIS is HUGE! "Because of sin, because I am self-addicted, living in the wreckage of the fall, my body, my heart, and my affections are prone to love things that kill me." HUGE! ~Karlie