Your Week In Review

Have you ever had the feeling that you are unprepared as you go through the week? Ever feel that it can be tough to be organized when it seems you have so much on your plate that you don't have time to think about the next thing until it happens? I've definitely felt this way and it doesn't help that my sinful laziness and procrastination can combine with a general lack of organization or the everyday onslaught of responsibilites and obligations. If I've made any progress in this area it's because God humbled me. I knew it was something I was weak in and awhile ago I read a book called "Getting Things Done" by David Allen. It's a popular productivity book among IT types and offers a practical system for organization.

Amongst other helpful advice, there is a part of the system that David Allen recommends called the weekly review. It consists of setting aside a set time every week to manage your organizational system and review what is coming up for the week ahead. I've heard CJ Mahaney state that he does something similar. Not just in terms of organizational systems, but also looking to the week ahead and seeing how he can serve his wife and his family and the church, as well as caring for his own soul. Every week he sets aside a certain time and goes to Starbucks to considers these things. Since he has an idea of the priorities and activities in the week coming up, he can effectively accept or decline other tasks or obligations which may arise. He notes that there will always be more things that we are asked ab out than we can do and if we know our responsibilities and limitations we can decline wisely and graciously without feeling guilty and without failing to meet existing obligations to those around us.

I definitely see the value in this, as God has shown me over the past several years there is a great advantage in being intentional and prepared instead of only letting things happen to me and reacting. So, I have been contemplating starting to do a weekly review. I typically have time before church on Sundays that I use for reading or other things that I feel might be a good time. I think a mix of evaluating the previous week and preparing for the upcoming week could serve me and allow me to be more effective.

So, I'm working on an agenda of sorts for the weekly review. Just some baseline questions to ask myself and areas that I should be considering. Obviously, I need to look at my calendar and consider the events that are upcoming. But more specific questions like "What opportunities do I have to serve others this week?", "How can I be looking to share the gospel with those around me?" or "How can I be seeking to pursue God more this week than last week?" are necessary as well.

What questions do you ask yourself on a regular basis to evaluate your walk with God? Can you think of any questions that would be good to add to my weekly review? What questions might help me to consider important areas of my life and Christian growth that I might otherwise ignore?

Let me know if you have any ideas in the comments and I'll try to post a more finalized list of questions and let you know how the weekly reviews go once I start.

Do You Know Your History?

When I was in high school, history was something of a neutral subject for me. Parts of my history classes were interesting but I never really found much of a purpose for that knowledge besides academic discussion. I was glad to be able to critically analyze past events and draw my own conclusions, but I never made a personal connection that took it further than just another subject at school.

During college as I began to grow as a Christian, I was directed towards the voices of theologians and writers of the past. As I started to interact with these great minds, the current cultural viewpoints of "newer is better" and "the past is irrelevant" began to be eroded.

Lately, I've become more interested in reading biographies and history. I'm more convinced of the value of learning from those who have come before us and the events of the past. As part of this growing interest, I've recently started reading a book called "The Wages of Spin" by Carl Trueman, a professor of church history at Westminster. It's a collection of articles and lectures written by Trueman, mostly dealing with post-modern views and the fact that Christianity is a historical religion.

One of the great points that Trueman makes throughout the book is the importance of history and how it speaks to our current situations. There is an article about the tendency to cast aside all tradition and creeds under the banner of relying on Scripture alone. Trueman goes on to point out that this is an error and even the Reformers didn't depose of tradition that quickly but only cast aside those things that weren't in agreement with God's Word. Scripture is the ultimate authority, but traditions and history from the church can be helpful when evaluated appropriately by Scripture. These traditions and creeds over the history of the church can help us to avoid errors that we might slip into if each generation decided to start from scratch when examining Scripture. By keeping this history in mind, we can help to avoid errors and see truths that we might otherwise miss in our cultural bias. This is summed up by a great quote on the back of the book:

"History repeats itself because nobody listens." - Laurence Peter

So, what does that mean for us?

Well, we need to have the humility to examine and learn from the past. It can be easy to buy into modern viewpoints that the past is unimportant or that we are so much more advanced than those who came before us. In reality, for everything we've gained, we seem to have made mistakes of our own (and sometimes even the same mistakes because of our ignorance). Also, as others have said, knowing the past helps us to be anchored and to see that so many things that claim to be new and fresh are old ideas that have already come and gone before. While the past and old ideas aren't by nature better, examining these things can help us understand and react better to our own time.

So, don't be afraid of history. Maybe you think it's boring, and I have certainly felt that way at times, but the thing that tends to make something interesting is when we see it fit into our own lives. If you come with a humble heart, you'll find there is much to learn from those who have come before.

The Bruised Reed - Chapter 3

A couple quick thoughts and quotes from the three pages of Chapter 3 of The Bruised Reed.

Chapter 3 - The Smoking Flax

When Sibbes speaks of the smoking flax, he speaks of the evidence of Christ's grace in our lives and the ongoing work of sanctification. Often our growth seems weak at first and the steps we take seem so small, but Sibbes encourages us:

"Let us not therefore be discouraged at the small beginnings of grace, but look on ourselves as elected to be 'holy and without blame' (Eph. 1:4). Let us look on our imperfect beginning only to enforce further striving to perfection, and to keep us in a low opinion of ourselves. Otherwise, in case of discouragement, we must consider ourselves as Christ does, who looks on us as those he intends to fit for himself. Christ values us by what we shall be, and by what we are elected unto. We call a little plant a tree, because it is growing up to be so. 'Who has despised the day of small things?' (Zec. 4:10). Christ would not have us despise little things." (p. 17)

Even when it seems that our growth is slow, we can ultimately rest in God's promise to bring his work in us to completion. And yet, despite this growing amount of grace, there is corruption still present in some sense. Sibbes describes the smoking flax as the spark and light that represent the hope and grace within us and the smoke from the fire that represents the sin which still remains.

"But grace is not only little, but mingled with corruption; therefore a Christian is said to be smoking flax. So we see that grace does not do away with corruption all at once, but some is left for believers to fight with." (p. 18)

Why is there this mixture of the smoke of corruption and the light of Christ?

"The end of it is especially to preserve us from those two dangerous rocks which our natures are prone to dash upon, security and pride, and force us to pitch our rest on justification, not sanctification, which, besides imperfection, has some stains." (p. 19)

A strong reminder to consider both of these "dangerous rocks".

First, security. Where am I deriving my assurance? Is it based upon my works and growth? The gradual process of sanctification and the corruption that remains show us that our ultimate assurance cannot come from how we have grown and what we have done, but in what Christ has already done on the cross in securing our justification.

Second, pride. The fact that sanctification continues at the pace that God determines helps us to keep our pride in check. Even when we are doing all the right things growth can be slow because God is the one who gives the increase and he does so his timing and wisdom. And sometimes, as I have seen in my life, that can be because I start to claim areas where I see growth as a result of me rather than God. Growth is often at a pace that causes us to depend fully on God and contemplating the remaining corruption in our lives helps to sever pride that begin to spring up.

Are you resting in confidence in God's promise to finish the good work he has started in you? Do you see areas of your life where you can be tempted to crash into the dangerous rocks of pride and security?

The Bruised Reed - Chapter 2

I'm still playing catchup on the blog posting for the Puritan Challenge for last month, so here are some thoughts on the second chapter of The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes.

Chapter 2 - Christ Will Not Break the Bruised Reed

Sibbes starts out the chapter by describing Christ's tender care towards us as one who who will not break a bruised reed. He explains that a doctor sometimes causes pain in a treatment, but it is for the cure of the disease. He continues by pointing out that the titles Christ gives himself, as husband, shepherd and brother, reveal a relationship of care.

Christ is one who truly cares for us and desires to build us up even though we are put through trials and often are brought to a lower opinion of ourselves by conviction of sin. In light of a renewed awareness of Christ's tenderness and care, Sibbes says:

"What should we learn from this, but to 'come boldly to the throne of grace' (Heb. 4:16) in all our grievances? Shall our sins discourage us when he appears there only for sinners?" (p. 9)

So often I find I can withdraw myself from God when I feel that I have sinned, but he appears with open arms now as when he first drew me to him. His arms are open to sinners. Sibbes goes on to note that our confidence and comfort should not be drawn from our circumstances, but from the Lord himself.

"His presence makes any condition comfortable." (p. 9)

This is something I truly desire, to in the midst of crisis or trial direct my gaze upon Christ and delight and take comfort in his work, his person and his promises. Sibbes then asks who are the bruised reeds. He describes them as people who see that God and his favor are the greatest good and that sin is the greatest evil. The bruised are people who are challenged and grieved not only by trials and circumstances, but of their sins most of all. How do we come to this state of thinking? Sibbes offers some thoughts on working with God to bruise ourselves:

"There is a dangerous slighting of the work of humiliation, some alleging this for a pretence for their casual dealing with their own hearts, that Christ will not break the bruised reed; but such must know that every sudden terror and short grief is not that which makes us bruised reeds; not a little 'bowing our heads down like a bullrush' (Isa. 58:5), but a working our hearts to such a grief as will make sin more odious unto us than punishment, until we offer a 'holy violence' against it." (p. 12)

That challenges me, I pray that more and more over time I would fight sin primarily because of its evil rather than merely for fear of punishment. This seems a daunting task for sure and would be if we had to do it by ourselves, but God provides grace. Fighting sin with this 'holy violence' is tough and often taxes our spirits. However, here Sibbes encourages us:

"But if we have this for a foundation truth, that there is more mercy in Christ than sin in us, that there can be no danger in thorough dealing. It is better to go bruised to heaven than sound to hell." (p. 12)

What a great truth to meditate on and remember. Truly our sin is great, but the mercy and grace of Christ and the cross are far far greater.

Am I Willing to Give What I Cannot Keep?

As part of the Financial Peace University (FPU) course that I'm helping with at church, I've started to read "The Treasure Principle" by Randy Alcorn. I'm very interested to wrestle with these things as I read and discuss with members of my group. God has been good to provide so well for me financially, in terms of a job and generous parents who helped me through school. Having seen how I had the tendency to take advantage of that generousity, I wanted to be equipped in how to handle my money wisely and in a way that honored God before I started my job. And Stefan was kind to point me in the direction of Dave Ramsey. His book, "Financial Peace", helped to establish the practical aspect of being a good steward of what God had given me and allowed me to give more freely.

But temptation can come from being more familiar with my finances and with money and investing in general. As I seek to save wisely, it can be easy to drift into a selfish hoarding mentality, to place my security ultimately in my savings, or to be tempted to think about how much money I would be saving if I didn't have to tithe. That's why I'm glad to be taking additional time to consider my heart's inclination towards money and how God calls me to use what he has given me. When it comes down to it, Jesus is concerned with the motives in our hearts and how that reflects what we truly value.

There is a great quote in the very beginning of the first chapter that you may have heard before. It sums up the message of the book in a eloquent way:

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

We need to consider using our money in the right way now so that we might gain eternal rewards in heaven. It's also applicable to our lives in general. Are we willing to serve sacrificially, give our time and live lives dedicated to God? While these things never ensure our salvation, God promises great rewards and there is an eternal joy that comes from obedience to God. And in reality, what are we giving up? Our lives on this earth and our money are things that will eventually come to an end. We are fools if we cling to the things of this world that will perish and neglect those things that are eternal.

Are we willing to give what we can't keep to gain what we can't lose?

A Lesson In Humility

When it comes to reading, books and discussing what I am learning, I tend to get a little excited. I'm always interested in trying to read and learn more and I find it helpful to read along with others. Perhaps it might be better to describe it as a "foolish overzealousness", particularly when it comes to determining how many books I am trying to read at a time, trying to take notes while doing so, seeking to discuss with others and, now, to write a blog post about it.

Is wanting to read a lot of books a bad thing? Certainly not. And to take notes, retain and apply the material? These are definitely good desires. Part of the problem comes when I start to think that I can read and grow in a knowledge of God without God's help. I wouldn't ever say that, but sometimes I think that's how I approach reading. I need to have a heart that depends on God and pray that as I seek to study and learn more, that he will provide grace to help me understand and apply.

Why do we need this grace? Well, I don't know about you, but sometimes I lack the desire to read. God's definitely grown me in this, but there are definitely times when I can get easily distracted or choose to do something less valuable with my time. Here's another reason. CJ Mahaney quoted David Powlison in his closing message for New Attitude last year. He said that we were "simple people". This weekend I was trying to catch up on the Systematic Theology reading plan that some people at church are using. The section I was in was discussion the attributes of God. As it began to get later, my eyes started getting heavy and I was having trouble remembering what I had just read. The next day, I was reading some more and I began to realize that I didn't remember much about what I had read. I began to think about God's omniscience and of our dependence and difference from God. He knows all and our finite minds have trouble comprehending and are apt to forget. We are "simple people" and we need the help of God and those around us to understand and apply.

So, what do we do in light of this? We pray and ask God for help. We lean on his promises to continue to conform us to Christ. And in humility, we take steps to read and retain the best we can. That means accountability, having others ask us about what we read. It means studying and taking notes. It means asking questions when we don't understand. It means having the humility sometimes to admit our forgetfulness and reread a great book that affected us in the past instead of pressing on to something new.

It also means seeing evidence of God's grace in the small steps we take. I can often dream big and set my goals very high. And there is nothing wrong with that. It may be that I desire to read a ton of books. Or that I want to take comprehensive notes on each chapter. Or that I want to write a blog post with a thought on every chapter I read.

And that's good, I want to strive hard for those kinds of things. But, I'm not there yet and it's bad when I get discouraged because I read and didn't take notes or haven't got the "perfect" blog post prepared for a chapter. My own ideas of what growth looks like and the areas where I can be tempted to perfectionism can get in the way. I need to walk in faith and trust God for the growth in my life. Then I can see his grace in the way I attempt to take notes in just one of the books I am reading or read one more book than I did last year or write a blog post that honors him even if it doesn't contain the complete annotated outline of a chapter I read.

God I pray that I would trust you for my growth in godliness and wisdom. Would I strive hard to know you more, but not trust ultimately in my plans or expectations. I pray for a patience that rests secure in your promises for my life. Would I give thanks and glorify you for every evidence of grace in my life, whether large or small, because of all it is undeserved and outside my power to obtain. In Jesus name, Amen.

Living in Community

Today after catching a related post on Rick's blog (The Shambles), I was reading some of the articles on the New Attitude blog regarding church involvement and church membership. There was an excerpt from one of Mark Dever's books that encapsulates one of the reasons I'm so grateful for being a member of a church and for my church in particular.

By identifying ourselves with a particular local church, we are telling the church’s pastors and other members not just that we commit to them, but that we commit to them in gathering, giving, prayer, and service. We are telling them to expect certain things from us and to hold us accountable if we don’t follow through. Joining a church is an act of saying, "I am now your responsibility, and you are my responsibility."

Because of the sin that remains and in the interest of my spiritual growth, I need to be living a transparent life in community with other believers. One of the other articles mentioned how God often puts us together so that the gifts of one person fit with the weaknesses of another. In his wisdom, God builds us together as the body of Christ as we seek daily to serve, support and love one another.

This quote also provides a responsibility that can be easy to overlook. We must be willing to open our lives up to others and we must be actively caring for others around us. For me, it can be so easy to get caught up in myself and forget to encourage, speak truth and invest into the lives of my brothers and sisters. The Christian life is not "every man for himself". We have a responsibility to those around us. Unlike Cain, we are called to be our "brother's keeper" Gen. 4:9. Obviously, that doesn't mean that we point out sins without directing to God's grace, but we do need to be willing to get involved in each other's lives and to occasionally speak truth into another's life rather stand to the side while they drift from Christ.

I need to ask myself daily: How am I investing into the body of Christ?

Link: The Bible and the Member Badge

The Fruitful Life - CG Book Study

In addition to the books I am planning to read this year for the Puritan Challenge, my community group will be reading "The Fruitful Life" by Jerry Bridges for the next couple months. We will be meeting for lunch on Sundays after church about every other week. The book focuses primarily on the fruits of the spirit as mentioned in Galatians, which ties in nicely with the series we just started at church. It is particularly helpful to walk through digesting and applying truth with other believers. I'll try to write up some thoughts since this blog is acting primarily as a place for me to think through what I'm reading.

Christopher has a post with more information on our community group blog.

Link: Media Singles CG: Book Study

The Bruised Reed - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 - The Reed and the Bruising

The main scripture passage that Sibbes is working from over the course of the book is Isa. 42:1-3:

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

Sibbes begins by describing Christ as the servant who the Father delights in. Before even digging into discussing the bruised reeds, he makes a great statement about focusing on Christ during our trials and temptations.

"In temptations it is safest to behold nothing but Christ the true brazen serpent, the true 'Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world' (John 1:29)" p.2

This refers to Numbers 21:4-9, where the people of Israel complained that Moses and God had brought them out of Egypt to die for lack of food and water in the wilderness. God sent serpents among them that bit and killed some of the people. The people repented and Moses prayed to the Lord, who instructed him to make a serpent and put it on a pole. When people were bitten by the serpents, they would look upon the bronze serpent that Moses had made and they would live.

Similiarly, now we look upon Christ, focus on him and live. He is the bronze serpent that takes away our sins as Sibbes says. This is a necessary reminder to focus on Christ at all times, good or bad. We can so easily be distracted by our circumstances during our trials or become self-confident during times of blessing, but life comes through keeping our eyes focused on Christ.

Sibbes also mentions God's pleasure in his redemptive plan:

"What a support to our faith is this, that God the Father, the party offended by our sins, is so well pleased with the work of redemption." p. 2

This is a glorious and amazing thought. God's work in redemption was not "Plan B" or a quick fix when things went badly with creation. Rather, redemption was planned by God from the beginning and carried out by his hand, and he is pleased with the work of Christ.

Lastly, Sibbes begins to describe what is meant by the "bruised reed". He describes Christ's coming as modest and mild. Both his birth and his interactions with people show his humility and caring nature towards sinners. Those Christ was coming to deal with are described as bruised reeds and smoking flax. This brusing can occur both before and after conversion and differs from person to person. Sibbes speaks of God emptying us of ourselves before utilizing us for his service.

What exactly does it look like to be bruised? A bruised reed is a man who is in misery and comes to see his sin as the cause of it. The smoking flax refers to the spark of hope that is kindled when one sees that help for this situation must come from outside. Sibbes states that these two components are what make one what Christ calls "poor in spirit" in Matt. 5:3. Sibbes describes the man who is a bruised reed and smoking flax:

"He has no means of supply from himself or the creature, and thereupon mourns, and, upon some hope of mercy from the promise and examples of those who have obtained mercy, is stirred up to hunger and thirst after it." p.4

What is the purpose of being bruised? Well, the bruising levels our pride prior to conversion and makes way for the Holy Spirit. Also, this bruising causes us to place a higher value on Christ and to be more grateful for what God has done. Bruising also makes us aware that God's plan and purpose is far greater than our own. The bruising continues after conversion in order that our pride might be kept in check. It conforms us to the image of Christ, who suffered for us. This also helps to encourage other believers who may be weaker in the faith. Reflecting on the weakness we see in great figures of the Bible, like David and Peter, Sibbes says:

"The heroic deeds of these great worthies do not comfort the church so much as their falls and bruises do." p.5

We should be encouraged that God used these great men despite their weakness and imperfection. Similiarly, when we feel weak and insufficient we remind ourselves that our strength comes from God and he has the ability to use us even in our weakness 2 Cor. 12:9.

Taking the Puritan Challenge

I mentioned in the last post that I've joined with others on the Internet in a plan to read through a Puritan paperback each month this year.

The home of the challenge is Timmy Brister's blog, Provocations & Pantings, and he will be providing additional resources and facilitating discussion each month. You can check out the details and sign up here.

Here is the rundown of the reading schedule...

January: The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes
February: The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel
March: The Godly Man's Picture by Thomas Watson
April: Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks
May: Come and Welcome Jesus Christ by John Bunyan
June: The Mortification of Sin by John Owen
July: A Lifting Up for the Downcast by William Bridge
August: The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs
September: The True Bounds of Christian Freedom by Samuel Bolton
October: The Christian's Great Interest by William Guthrie
November: The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter
December: A Sure Guide to Heaven by Joseph Alleine


As you might notice, it's February and I haven't said anything about The Bruised Reed yet. Well, I got started a little late. I only decided to join the Challenge about a week ago. So, I'm working my way through the book for January and I'll be playing catchup for at least a week or two. Hopefully, I'll have the first post on the first book sometime tomorrow.

Feel free to join me and the other people who will be reading along this year. Either click the link above or the button on the sidebar to join in.

Writing It All Down

I have been kicking around the idea of starting a blog for a couple weeks now. While a large portion of my fulltime job is coding websites, it isn't what I originally planned to do. As I was recently working on setting up a blog for someone, I thought that it might be nice to starting something like this where I could build skills and passion for work, have fun and profit spiritually.

The final push came as I attempted to organize my reading for this year. I'm notoriously bad at keeping focused on a single book, which can result in a lot of half-read books on the shelf. As I was sketching out my plan to finish at least one book a month and what each of those books might be, I remembered that some bloggers had been starting a reading challenge based upon Banner of Truth's Puritan Paperbacks. Since some of these books were on my list of things to read and others would be blogging through the books at the same time, I decided to jump in.

However, it can definitely be a challenge to read and retain. In the past, I've found that it helps me to understand what I am reading when I have to articulate it to someone else.

So, that brings me to this blog.

It's primarily here so I have a place to work through what I am reading, mainly focusing on the Puritan Reading Challenge. I don't claim to have any special insights about these books or Scripture, but I hope to grow as I seek to work these things out and I invite your thoughts and questions. Also, if I see helpful or interesting information elsewhere, I'll try to mention it here.

So, hopefully this will be a worthwhile exercise that God will use as I walk through this year. It's encouraging to see how God has used other blogs to help me. I'm thankful for old favorites like (Shepherd's Scrapbook) as well as exciting new blogs by friends at Drexel Cru (3500 Minutiae) and CJ Mahaney (C.J. Mahaney's view from the cheap seats). It's amazing to see how a technology that can so easily cause us to be self-centered and inward-focused can also be used to direct us to God's glory and the wonder of the cross.