A Question of Good Taste

Warning: Bad Joke Approaching!

Did you hear that "Snap", "Crackle" and "Pop" were murdered?

The police think it was a cereal killer.

You have got to try this cereal sometime. It's SO tasty. Tasty. Tasty.

I remember reading a book where the author described a dark time in his life. He was questioning his faith. He was questioning the meaning of the universe.

Then he bit into a Chic-Fil-a chicken sandwich.

And he knew that there was a God. And he knew that God was GOOD.

I'm telling you, that's crazy. And there's something really helpful in it as well. Can you think about the things in life that are GOOD? And I'm not talking about "Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels."

I'm talking about things that reveal God to you. John Piper writes that things can either RIVAL God, or REVEAL God. I think that's very helpful.

Here's your goal today: every time you see something that's beautiful; every time you taste something delicious; every time you feel something wonderful...

Say to yourself "Thank-you, Lord."

Harris and Warren converse on Atheism

There's a facinating article in Newsweek. It's a debate/conversation between Sam Harris (atheist) and Rick Warren (megachurch pastor).

Required [retro] reading.

Click there immediately.

Precious In The Sight Of The Lord...

Jonathan Edwards had a collection of resolutions that reviewed weekly. Resolution #9 is:

"Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death."

Many of Edwards' resolutions hinged around this theme of death. While perhaps death was an obsession of the Victorian era, it seems to be taboo in our day.

With that as a backdrop, I have a suggestion for you. Four great men of God (though not very well known) have passed away in since the new year. I suggest you read about their lives, and fire up your own heart to finish your race for Christ.

Bruce Metzger

Paul Hiebert

Herman Ridderbos

William Piper

Who cares who reminded you?

This week, I was reading in Joshua and found an interesting insight. Sometimes (like Joshua 20), the Lord Himself shows up and reminds Joshua of a command of the Lord (like establishing cities of refuge). In the very next chapter, a group of people shows up and reminds Joshua of a command of the Lord (cities for the Levites).

I was humbled and challenged by Joshua's godly response. When the Lord reminded him, he followed the command of the Lord. When people reminded him, he followed the command of the Lord.

How challenging! It would have been so tempting for Joshua to think "Well, if the Lord wants that done, He'll mention it the next time He comes and speaks to me face-to-face." Instead, he simply obeys God's command.

It reminded me of one of my favorite chapters in the Old Testament: Daniel 9.

Daniel is reading his bible, and reads about how long the exile is supposed to last in the book of Jeremiah.

Remember: Daniel is pretty much the most gifted vision/dream person in the whole bible. (O.K. maybe Joseph.) But the largest insight that he receives about the work of God during his lifetime comes, not through a vision, but through the words of another person.

Like we often say at Harvest, it's the MESSAGE not the MESSENGER.

May God open our ears to hear His Words spoken through His people.

Words of Wisdom

from our friends at Threadless T-s: