by Kimberly | Mar 21, 2012 | Books, ethics, Uncategorized
Phil Ryken has written one of the most convicting books since Respectable Sins and Mortification of Sin. Why? Because I don’t love the way Jesus loves. Nor do most of us, I would assume. As a dear sweet man at our church says, “Every sin is a love sin.” After reading this book, I would agree with him.
Dr. Ryken’s take on 1 Corinthians 13 (the famous marriage love verse chapter) (note: even though the above mentioned man read it in our wedding, we know that it is correctly applied to the local church and not to a husband/wife relationship.) is not a strict commentary, but an applicable look intertwining with stories from the gospels that show us how Jesus perfectly lived out what Paul wrote. “As a reminder, we are not taking everything from the Love Chapter in order. As we study this portrait of love, we are connecting everything to the life of Christ.” (pg 47)
One of the most convicting chapters for me personally was the ‘Love is Not Irritable’. I would consider myself a person who generally gets along with most people. But, recently, probably since being married, I have come to find out that I am loving toward people who love me, work according to my plan, drive according to my mapped out route, consider me a friend, aren’t overly friendly to me in the cafe early in the morning, or has to repeat my order 3 times. Otherwise, I’m pretty irritable. Oh, sin…that it would lose its grip on me.
Ryken’s book on this love chapter is great for anyone: scholar, lay person, non-Christian exploring the gospels and the life of Christ, would be good for a small group of seekers or on a college campus.
by Kimberly | Mar 6, 2012 | Books
Truth be told I’ve never been a Christian fiction fan, unlike my former roommate who is a skilled fiction writer herself, I tend toward non-fiction. But, these days I want something easy and something that doesn’t make my brain think too much. As the husband and I were watching Courageous, one of the trailers that were previewed was The Shunning. I wanted to watch it, after hearing the book was good, but decided I would read it first. Little did I know that I would finish the 3-part series in less than two weeks and love them. Here are some thoughts
1. Reading fiction makes me lazy. Unfortunately, a good fiction book sucks you in to its life and you want to do little else rather than finish the book. I’ve read nothing else, ‘cept my Bible on some days, while I read this series. I often wish that the Bible would draw me in like fiction I’ve never read – wanting to see how the story ends up and where the characters are by the end of it. Note: I’m supremely glad the Bible is not fiction, but all Truth!
2. Here are some themes:
a. Forgivness. Especially once you know the forgiveness of Jesus, it is easier to forgive others. If we have been forgiven by an all loving and perfect God, who are we to not forgive others.?
b. Intimacy with Christ over religion. The Amish (which these series is about the Amish) live and die by a set of writings set up by men. They don’t want to mention much of the Bible and few have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus, in the NT, says we will love him if we obey His commands, so I’m not saying we shouldn’t be obedient to what the Bible says. But, our works can never save us. We can never give enough to out give God.
c. Adoption. An Amish girl is given away at birth. Should an adoptive child know this early, have it always be hidden from her, ever meet her birth mom or dad? All these questions are hidden in the mystery and goodness of adoption.
So, if you need a good fiction series, Beverly Lewis’ The Heritage of Lancaster County is a good one to read.
by Kimberly | Dec 15, 2011 | Books, Uncategorized
Paul Tripp is decidedly one of my favorite authors. Tackling real-life issues and problems and matching them to the gospel – that is where he finds the rest and help that we need as sinners living in a fallen world. His books are always “ouch” and “amen” to quote Voddie Baucham.
A friend, Bonnie, and I have been reading this book together this year. It has been a little slower since I got married and she started dating, but now we are neighbors, so I’m hoping our book club continues. We read a couple of chapters then come together and talk about it: how it applies to our lives, our relationships, and the ministries we are involved in. Oh, Bonnie B, what will we read next?
PDT doesn’t mince words: he tells us we live in a fallen world full of sin. But, even as believers, we need and have the remedy. Jesus and the Gospel.
One of the perks to PDT books is you get just a hint of his poetry. Such a winner.
So, how do you live life in a fallen world? How do you deal with issues in your life that are a result of sin (because sin damages the entire world, not just your life). Death is in this world – that is a fact. But, Jesus has overcome death and has brought us life. We can live differently and with hope because we know this truth.
“At every point and every moment, your life is messier and more complicated than it really ought to be because everything is so much more difficult in such a terribly broken world.” (pg 17)
“Your Lord is the ultimate Restorer and He never rests. He calls you and me to live in this broken-down house with hearts of patience and eyes of promise. He calls us away from self-focused survival and to the hard work of restoration. He calls us away from paralyzing discouragement and the nagging desire to quite. He welcomes us to live in the patience and grace that only He can give.” (pg 21)
“There will be a war in your heart between what the Bible has to say about you and what you would like to think is true about you.” (pg 36). I often say to my husband, “my heart is ugly.” He has asked me to quit saying that or at least finish the statement: “but Jesus bought and paid for it anyway and is making it new.”
“Forgiveness, Christ’s gift to us, means that we can stand before God in all of our neediness, weakness, and moral failure and yet be utterly unafraid. Sinful people can stand before a holy God because Jesus took the penalty for our sin on Himself and satisfied the Father’s anger.” (pg 45). We talked about this at our breakfast table as we read in Is 53 part of the Advent story. The mystery and wonder and astonishment that substitutionary atonement of Christ for us is. Amazing.
“I am not to think of my life as separate from ministry, nor am I to think of ministry as separate from my life. I am to give myself to a way of living that views every dimension of human life as a forum for ministry. I don’t live with a willingness to occasionally minister. I am not open to ministry opportunities. No, I commit myself to live with a ministry mentality where my actions, reactions, and responses are more shaped by a desire to be a part of what God is doing on earth than to fulfill my personal wants and needs.” (pg 94) This should change our mindset as wives and see our home life (and taking care and loving our husbands) as ministry, and not see what we do as unimportant.
“in calling us to wait, God is freeing us from the claustrophobic confines of our own little kingdoms of one and drawing us into a greater allegiance to His Kingdom of glory and grace.” (pg 117)
“Pursue community. It can only happen when we are living in functional, biblical community with people who will again and again remind us of who we are. I need people in my life who will lovingly hold the mirror of the Word of God in front of me so that I can see how deep my struggle with sin still is. I need people who will confront my timidity and avoidance with the comforting, encouraging, embolderning realities of faith.” (pg 159). Thankful for girl friends, pastor friends, and my husband who do this for me.
by Kimberly | Dec 10, 2011 | Books
I own quite a few Piper books, and it is no secret that I like his writings. However, this happens to be one of my favorites: very practical and pastoral. I do believe it started out as a series of messages that were formed into a book – that’s why it seems very pastoral and shepherding in its style.
This Momentary Marriage stressed the theological foundations for the outworkings of the gospel in your marriage. Although it touches on singleness and divorce and child-bearing and rearing – it sits on marriage and its base in the Word of the God for the majority of the book.
I really appreciated the chapter on singleness and wish that I had read it while I was single. I can’t return (nor would I want to), but it is very encouraging and some words and hope I can share with other single ladies in my circle of friends and sphere of influence.
I have been struggling with some thoughts toward infertility and the universal command to procreate and fill the earth – and Pastor John’s chapter on child-bearing was quite helpful and hope-giving.
One of the little blessings in this book: at the beginning of each chapter he posted a Dietrich Bonhoeffer quote from Letters and Papers from Prison – which were quite helpful. I love his writings (though I am struggling through Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxes just because it is such a weighty book and its on my Kindle).
Here are some helpful quotes and I hope they prove to be a blessing to you:
“Romance, sex, and child-bearing are temporary gifts of God. They are not part of the next life. And they are not guaranteed for this life. They are one possible path along the narrow way to Paradise. Marriage passed through breathtaking heights and through swamps with choking vapors. It makes many things sweeter, and with it come bitter providences.” (pg 16-17)
“The ultimate thing to see in the Bible about marriage is that it exists for God’s glory. Most foundationally, marriage is the doing of God. Most ultimately, marriage is the display of God. It is designed to display His glory in a way that no other event or institution does.” (pg 24). Ask my husband, he knows this was the biggest fear of mine going into marriage: and it still is. But, I see so much of the gospel offered to me by my husband that it is such a sweet detail and life-giving action to me.
“Marriage was designed from the beginning to display the new covenant between Christ and the church. The very essence of this new covenant is that Christ passes over the sins of His bride. His bride is free from shame not because she is perfect but because she has no fear that her lover will condemn her or shame her because of her sin.” (pg 33-34) ** One of the most pivotal statements to me in this book – or any other marriage book – or book on the gospel or forgiveness.
“A Christian woman does not put her hope in her husband, or in getting a husband. She does not put her hope in her looks or her intelligence or her creativity. She puts her hope in the promises of God.” (pg 97)
“I am not sentimentalizing singleness to make the unmarried feel better. I am declaring the temporary and secondary nature of marriage and family over against the eternal and primary nature of the church. Marriage and family are temporary for this age; the church is forever.” (pg 111)
“Faith is the confidence we feel in all that God promises to be and do for us in all the tomorrows of our lives.” (pg 129). As my pastor is preaching through Hebrews, and just got to chapter 11 – this is very helpful in my understanding.
Picture taken by Erica Cooper during our engagement session with her.
by Kimberly | Dec 8, 2011 | Books
“Like the Israel of old, you tend to forget the most basic things. Important thigns. You need constant reminders, and what you have been gleaning from others is not enough. You need to find ways to remind yourself about the things that matter, because when you aren’t intentionally setting the truth before yourself you forget.” (pg 135)
If you have ever heard the term “preach the gospel to yourself!”, made popular by people like Lloyd-Jones, Jerry Bridges, and CJ Mahaney – here is a how-to book. I love Joe’s simple truths, yet ones that we need to hear every day.
He has given us 48 “sermons” that we can preach to ourselves. They each take about 3 minutes to read – so its a perfect addition to your daily quiet time.
Be compelled to start taking the Word that you are reading and putting it into practice in your daily life: life with children, life with your husband, life in the workplace or in your home community group. Apply it to the areas of your personal life where you are struggling, apply it to the areas of life where you are winning!
God’s Word is applicable to every part of your life – not just the Sunday morning corporate worship time. After finishing Joe’s book – write your own Note To Self book (this is what I’m doing for a friend as a gift). Use can use personal verses that mean a lot to you and write them down, stick it in your purse or in your car – so you can read it often.
“God’s face shines on you when you are learning – experientially – His Word. This means His favor and blessing are upon you, and that you have sweet communion with Him through Scripture, but only when you receive it for what it is; God’s life-giving Word meant to be believer, received, and obeyed – not only dissected.” (pg 130)
Here are just some of the “mini-sermons” that I liked from Joe:
“Thankfulness is the joyful and humble response of a heart that has been transformed by grace.” (pg 43)
“Small Jesus does not inspire awe, command respect, lead to worship, or compel us to talk of him (much less suffer for him). And small Jesus is too little to arrest the attention of the world.” (pg 48)
“You have to make the most, not just of the day as a whole, but of all the parts that make up the day.” (pg 90) – This is helping me be like some other women I know who are industrious and not wasters of time. I don’t do this perfectly, but God is working grace in me in this area. Thankful.
“Stop thinking so small when it comes to teh church gathering for worship. It is for God’s pleasure, your good, and the health of your church. Prepare for such a meeting with God today, and worship out loud with your brothers and sisters.” (pg 116)
“You should be seeking God for wisdom and strength in the midst of your calling, whether that is in the home, at the office, or in the garage.” (pg 118)
by Kimberly | Nov 28, 2011 | Books
Since I’m actually getting opportunity to read more, I’ll probably update this little list weekly.
1. This Momentary Marriage: I’m really loving this book by John Piper and how it includes singleness and divorce in a book on marriage. His reasoning: to keep us from idolizing marriage.
2. I do…Every Day: This is a quick Kindle read that offers practicle life suggestions for newlyweds.
3. Note to Self: Be SBTS grad Joe Thorn. Practical book (and short daily reads) to help you know what to preach to yourself.
4. Lit!: Helps me with all this reading.
5. Excellence: Mostly for Christian scholarship – but trying to apply it to everyday life as well.
6. God on Sex: this book is very practical
You may ask yourself – what about the other books that were on your list. Still in the currently reading pile – but these on this list are what I’m concentrating on this week.
