To all future father-in-laws: Try this on for size.

I just finished reading John Piper's newest book in the series, "The Swans are not silent" titled, "Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ". Each book contains a brief biographical sketch of a leader of the church who stood as a beacon of faithfulness in his day and age. Reading Christian biographies is a great practice in expanding one's view God's "enduring kindness". It is a sure remedy for self-exaltation. Saints of ages past have big shoes to fill!
One of my favorite men of God was Adoniram Judson, although i doubt i'll bless any of my children with his first name. He served a critical purpose in beginning the American Missions movement in the 19th century. He was one of the first missionaries sent out from America and his fame for preaching to the heathens was a premier catalist in the largest modern missions mobilization. Before he left for his life's work, he met his future wife. He fell in love with her at first sight, and they were married six months later. During this time he wrote her father a bold letter,
"I have now to ask, whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of missionary life; whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean, to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death. Can you consent to all this, for the sake of him who left his heavenly home, and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion, and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with the crown of righteousness, brightened with the acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Savior from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?" (piper, p92)
Shocked?!? Well, it might seem a bit forward, but it worked. Anne and Adoniram were married two weeks before they left for the missions field. Maybe i'll try this with approach with my next girlfriend's dad. i really like the opening bit, "if you let me marry your daughter, you'll never see her again." His direct sense of the calling of God upon his life created an openness to the extreme needs of the gospel. To Judson, the purpose of the gospel was urgent. That's why he's one of my favorite saints.
For more on Adoniram Judson, check out Piper's newest book. it's FREE on desiringgod.org. Until next time, serve Him urgently.

I love Easter

Easter is such a special day. This year, i half-heartedly observed my own form of unconventional lent. I know that sounds like weak sauce, but i stood up to a giant for fourty days. My stomach. I partook of some form of rice and beans for lunch, giving up normal foods, to remind myself of what Christ gave up to become man.
During my meditations on the life of the savior, i was floored. my own insiginificance on the part of the gospel got up in my face and stayed there. You see, there are two impossibilities wrapped up in easter. One for God, and one for Man.

God Died.

Man Ressurected.

this is the height of the dual nature of Jesus. we know he is both fully God and man, and are familiar with the great possibilities of the life of a God/man, but what are the cons, the downsides, and the bad thigns of being God and Man? They are all wraped up in the fact that Christ orchastrated every event in his death, burrial and resurrection, and yet never should have died. His perfetion prohibited it. Yet, 'he who knew no sin became sin for us'.
This is where it gets complicated, because Christ had to be the perfect sinless sacrifice-the passover lamb-in order to be our redemption, and yet, in his boundless love, took sin on himself. the very sin he fought against. the very sin that separated creation and creator. the very sin that bears the hate of his holy prejudice.

I believe a proper understaning of Easter deflates narcicistic self-rightiousness. God did not die for you. He won you. He is not consumed with you, but we are fulfilled in him.

I don't mean to be hyper critical, and i mean to say this in love. i was singing in the shower friday morning a little song you might know. it goes,

you gave, you gave, your life away,
you gave, you gave, your life away,
you gave, you gave, your life away for me
your grace has broken every chain,
my sin is gone my debt's been paid,
you gave, you gave, your life away for me

this song of praise turned bitter on my tongue as i sang the last two words... "for me". If a man to believes the Almight Creator of the universe wants to be BFF's, he does not know God.

During the week of His Passion, Jesus was asked, "which commandment is greatest?" and he replied with Deut 6:4,5. a passage the Hebrews called "Shma" or "Hear".

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

This was the last question the religious leaders tried on Jesus, and with this answer he explaned the profundity of His Passion. The way it has been since the beginning of divine revelation, a call to love God. a call to be obedient sons and daughters, royal priests, and heirs. I love Easter because it tells me how to love God.

Love God.