Francis Chan- New Book

For those of you that read Crazy Love Francis Chan has just released his new book Forgotten God- Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of The Holy Spirit.  I am the worlds slowest reader and I read it in 3 hours.  It is definately worth the time and money.  Here are some of my hightlights from the book.

• You would know that the Spirit led the first Christians to do unexplainable things, to live lives that didn’t make sense to the culture around them, and ultimatley spread the story of God’s grace around the world.
• …I also believe that the Spirit is more obviously active in places where people are desperate for Him, bumbled before Him, and not distracted by their pursuit of wealth or comfots (like we are).
• I am embarrassed by some of my “Christian” neighbors because my unbelieving neighbors seem more joyful, welcoming, and at peace. Why does this happen? And how is it even possible?
• I want to be different today from what I was yesterday as the fruit of the Spirit becomes more manifest in me.
• The Spirit desires to use us when our hearts are aligned with this vision, when we are filled with genuine love for the church, and when we desire to see the church grow in love for God and others.
• I don’t want my life to be explainable without the Holy Spirit.  I want people to look at my life and know that I could’nt be doing this by my own power. I want to live in such a way that I am desperate for Him to come through.  That if He doesn’t come through, I am screwed. (I probably shouldn’t write that word here, but it’s how U truly feel about this.)
• I spent years asking God to be a part of whatever I was doing.  When I read the book of Acts, I see people privileged to play a part in what God was doing.

That is just a taste of the great stuff in the book.

Stop right there

Started reading Matthew 4 today and I just felt the need to stop right there.  I read this and had to stop.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit

I know the chapter and verse go on, and I wanted to keep reading, but I just couldn’t.  Jesus was led by the Spirit.  Think about that. Jesus followed the direction of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 8:14 says:

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

People who have surrender their lives to Christ Lordship are to be led by the Spirit of God.  I wish the Matthew Chapter 4 would go on to explain how Jesus was led by the Spirit but it doesn’t.

I just finished reading “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan and he concludes his book by saying that we need to live each day for Jesus.  Everything we do and say needs to be done with Him in mind.  As I think about my love for God and my desire to live for His Glory, I think about the simplicty of being led by the Spirit.  I believe it is simple obedience.  Everything you do, everywhere you go, live out your relationship with God.  If your in an intimate love relationship with God, and you feel like God is laying something on your heart, DO IT!  If you feel like God is telling you to let go of something you have been holding on to, DO IT!  If you feel like God is saying “Stop Right There” DO IT!!! Maybe He wants to teach you something.  Maybe He wants to use you for His Glory.

Pray with me.  God teach me how to be led by Your Spirit.  Teach me how to obey.  Teach me how to walk everyday in an intimate love relationship with you.  Help me to stop when you burden my heart to “Stop right there”.

Crazy Thought

My buddy Ron got me started on this book by Francis Chan called “Crazy Love”.  I am only 30 pages in but I highly recommend it for any one who is truely serious about have a love relationship with God.  I guess I have enjoyed the book so much because many of the thoughts and feeling that I have been having regarding God are also described in this book.  Let me give you an example.

In the preface Chan says that he hopes “reading this book will convice you of something: that by surrendering yourself totally to God’s purposes, He whill bring ou the most pleasure in this life and the next.” 

Chapter one is called stop praying.   “He says what if I told you to stop talking AT God for a while, but instead to take a long, hard look at Him before you speak another word?”   A lot of times I feel that I stink at being a christian and a pastor because I am not a “prayer warrior”.  I find myself not offering to God the sacrifice of fools.  See my post from January regarding that. 

Did you know that God is Holy, all knowing, all powerful, fair and just?  Why then do we think and act as if life is all about US!  Chan quotes Psalms 115:3 whichs says “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.” And then Chan says this. “Yet we keep on questioning him: ‘Why did You make me with this body, instead of that one?’ ‘Why are so many people dying of starvation?’…..” WHY WHY WHY.  

Let me answer the question of starvation quick.  This came to me as I read this and I think its awesome.  BECAUSE we make life all about US instead of God.  If we would simly live as God desires for us to there would not be starvation.  Its not God’s fault.  He loves us and because of that love He gives us choices.  We chose to go our own way.  Gods way is to “Be fruitful and Multiply”.  To “fill the earth and subdue it.” See Genesis 1.   The Bible talks over and over again about our responsibilty to care for the poor and those in need.   Life stinks and is not fair because we chose to life for ME, MYSELF and I.   Sin messed this place up not God.  

I could go on and on, but I am going to stop.  Go pick up “crazy love” and read it.  Or better yet pick up your Bible and fall crazy in love with the Author.  For some of you to fall deeper in love with God your going to have to begin focusing on God and not yourself.   Your gonna have to make your live about living for Him and not me.  My Lifestyle His Glory. 

This might me that you will have to STOP PRAYING at GOD and simply listen.  Talk back when HE speaks to your heart and you feel the only response that you can give is by speaking back to Him.

I guess part of my crazy thought is the fact that I am still captivated and fascinated by God.  I dont have Him figured out.  Often I dont understand Him.  I simply dont get it.  But I am falling so in love with Him and the scary thing is…. I am not following anyones model of what this love should look except Christ who offered His all for His love of the Father.