I would give a lot to be waking up in Samarkand today. I would walk down the street to get break baked just a few minutes ago, and I would come home and eat it for breakfast with sweet milk and tea.

Or I would fast and walk around the city all day and pray against the demonic strongholds that make a miserable place to live.

Someday, Lord?

Christian hope is not about wishing that things will get better, that somehow emptiness will go away, meaning will return, and life will be stripped of its uncertainties, its psychological aches and anxieties.  Nor does it have anything to do with techniques for improving fallen human life, be those therapeutic or even religious.  Hope, instead, has to do, biblically speaking, with the knowledge that “the age to come” is already penetrating “this age,” that the sin, death, and meaningless of the one is being transformed by the righteousness, life and meaning of the other, that what has emptied out life, what has scarred and blackened it, is being displaced by what is rejuvenating and transforming it.  More than that, hope is hope because it knows it has become part of a realm, a kingdom, which endures, where evil is doomed and will be banished, that it has left behind it the ship of “this age” which is sinking….It is in the inbreaking of this redemptive age through Christ that meaning and hope are found.”  -- David Wells.

  I’m going to post today and probably one more time to wrap-up our look at John Piper’s Don’t Waste your Life and the DWYL: Study Guide. I hope you have found this study helpful, challenging, eye-opening, convicting, encouraging, and covered in God’s grace. My desire when we started was to help the youth in my church see that God has a bigger plan for us than many of us realize (even adults). Maybe God has opened your eyes through the words of John Piper to see and savor and love Jesus Christ more than you ever have. If so, then all of these posts were well worth the effort.

  Plus, being a sinful, selfish human being I must mention the personal benefit I have received by going through the study as a “leader” and posting my thoughts and responding to the comments. I feel like God has used this time in my life to work in my heart and that is personally encouraging.

  Lesson 10 in the Study Guide has no official questions but we have been asked to reflect back upon the book and the study. On day one, I posted a rather lengthy quote from the final chapter that spoke to me and I shall do the same today. John Piper writes,

  A greater weight of glory waits to be enjoyed for those who grow in love to Christ. And what is love to Christ? It is the cherishing of all you are for us in him. It is the treasuring of his perfection over all the treasures of the world. It is delighting in his fellowship beyond all family and friends. It is embracing all his promises that there will be more pleasure in his presence than from all the lying promises of sin. It is a gladness in the present taste of glory and the hope of future fullness when we see him face to face. It is a quiet peace along the path he chooses for us with its pain. It is a being satisfied that nothing comes to us in vain (187-88).

My Response: As I try to teach and lead my youth group, the concept of loving God more than any other is a difficult one for the kids to grasp. God says, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). This is the First Commandment of the Ten Commandments and it is echoed by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew when He says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).

  What Jesus is teaching is this: to properly love anything at all (parents, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, etc.) you must first love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind. Why? Because the new birth given only in relationship to Jesus Christ is not addition of good things to a broken, sinful heart—it’s a heart transplant. Jesus takes your old, sinful, broken heart and replaces it with a new heart. A heart that is oriented toward God and thankful for His love and grace and mercy and peace and joy that He alone can offer.

  Here is a common concern and response, “But I could never love anyone more than I love my parents!” Yes, you can. My Mom and Dad know that I love the Lord more than them. And, I hope and pray they love God more than me. Why? Because if they love me more than they love God, then who is their god—me. And I can save no one…I can’t even save myself let alone my family. The only hope any of us have is Jesus—see John 14:6. So, if you have placed your love of Mom and Dad, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, dog, car, guitar, food, son, daughter, nephew, grandma, grandpa, etc. above God, then you have created for yourself a false god. Do you think God will honor that? I am here to tell you clearly and without a question God will not share His glory with another God—ever. If you doubt me, read the Old Testament. It is a reminder time and again of the trouble the Israelites brought upon themselves as they followed and loved false gods.

  So, love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. Not too hard, right? Well, it’s impossible without the indwelling grace of God displayed through and manifested in the Holy Spirit.

  Thoughts?

  Uncle Jeff

The Lord has been revealing this to me in a variety of ways in recent days, including my own sermon preparation and devotional life, sermons I've heard (including an excellent treatment of the book of Jonah by missionary appointee Tim Bixby), and books I've been reading (particularly John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life). Here's a quick summary of how the Lord is working to open my eyes to my shallowness:

I'm preaching on the book of Nehemiah, and I've been convicted by Nehemiah's burden for the people and work of God in chapter 1. Despite his own affluence and influence as a sort of cabinet member/secret service agent in the palace of King Artaxerxes, the ruler of the world in 446 BC, Nehemiah's attention was on the people and work of God in Jerusalem, some 800 miles away. He was concerned enough to ask for information. He was grieved enough by what he heard to weep as an immediate response. He was burdened enough to mourn, fast, and pray as an enduring response. Ultimately, he was devoted enough to risk his own life (both before the King and by leaving the comfort and security of Shushan for the devastation of Jerusalem) in order to help address the need and demonstrate God's supremacy.

What particularly struck me is this: when is the last time I actually wept and grieved and fasted for the work and people of God? The answer: too long ago. It's not that I don't cry, mind you. I'm plenty emotional. But the causes of my tears are what show how very shallow I am. I waste my emotions on merely sentimental things---a stupid Hallmark commercial, a reality show about some guy losing weight or getting famous, a chick flick in which a heart-broken widow finds love and her down-and-outer husband-to-be finds hope (which, alas, is the storyline of most chick flicks), or a sports moment in which a nobody or a goat becomes a hero. Seriously, I get weepy for that tripe! I told you I'm shallow.

It gets worse. I waste what emotions are left after commercials and feel-good stories on merely selfish things. I'm bummed about my broken-down van; I'm excited about my tax return; I find either satisfaction or frustration (or guilt) in the condition of my house and yard; I find fulfillment in exercising. You get the idea. I invest a lot of emotion in me.

What really bothers me, though, is not just that I invest too much emotion in temporary things, but that I invest too little emotion in eternal things. I rejoice too little at the conversion of an unbeliever or the spiritual progress of a believer. I weep too little over the lostness of a neighbor or the hardships of a brother. I grieve too little over our ridiculously inefficient missions support system. I pray too little for the missionaries with whom TCBC has partnered. Frankly, I'm more like Jonah than Nehemiah---I rejoice over a "gourd" rather than what God is doing in the world, and I get burdened about a "worm" rather than the brokenness of God's work and people and testimony.

So I'm shallow, and I'm beginning to see it. And I'm not alone. Most American Christians assume that our Lord is satisfied and our lives meaningful as long as we're going to church, reading the Bible, avoiding dirty movies, and tithing. (And, indeed, doing those things might be significant progress for many of us!) What we fail to realize is that aside from the way we spend our Saturday nights, Sunday mornings, and the first 1/10 of our paychecks, we differ very little from our lost neighbors. We have no more sense of mission than they do. Our lives are spent pursuing the same disposable vanities as theirs---working on our "styrofoam cup" houses and yards, maintaining our "paper plate" cars, and saving or investing for our "spork" vacations and retirements. We're wasting our lives.

That brings me to another source of conviction in the Lord's conspiracy against my shallowness. I've profited much from Piper's little book Don't Waste Your Life. (Notice that I didn't say I enjoyed it.) I've particularly been made to squirm by the second half of the book, including chapter 5's discussion of risk vs. the facade of security and chapter 7's discussion of materialism---our treasuring of things instead of Christ. I've urged the people of TCBC to read the book, and I commend it to you, as well. I don't agree with everything that Piper says (even in this book), but it's the sort of spiritual wake up call that this generation of believers desperately needs. It's point is aptly made by an Ecclesiastes-like statement by J. Campbell White (writing on the Layman's Missionary Movement of the early 1900's):

"Most men are not satisfied with the permanent output of their lives. Nothing can wholly satisfy the life of Christ within his followers except the adoption of Christ's purpose toward the world he came to redeem. Fame, pleasure and riches are but husks and ashes in contrast with the boundless and abiding joy of working with God for the fulfillment of his eternal plans. The men who are putting everything into Christ's undertaking are getting out of life its sweetest and most priceless rewards."

I'm shallow. You probably are too. It's downright embarrassing, if we're honest about it. We need to repent. We need to reassess our passions and priorities. We need to invest our tears, dollars, hours, and years in things eternal. We need to think radically, shaking off our day's definition of "normal" Christianity. We need to consider what it would really mean to live lives dedicated to enjoying, exalting, and spreading the glory of Christ---the very purposes for which we were born and born again!

May the Lord deepen us and thus be glorified in us.

 God has shown me what he can do if someone is willing to serve him. On Thursday night I was lying on my bed praising God for just using me. I was blown away by the opportunities that God has placed in my life to serve him. My dad had just got back from the deacons meeting and said that my project to raise money for LC2LC was approved and I had just heard that I would be writing for Seekers Of Truth. I was amazed that he was using me. My prayer for years has been that God would use me even more so these last few months. And I am amazed at what he can do with a young girl that loves him. It boggles my mind.

 What I want to ask you guys is: Do you have a servant's heart? Are you willing to serve Jesus with your life? Are you willing to step out of the boring and easy and simple and to use your life to bring glory to your creator and savior? Just think about this. And never say that you are too young. For when the prophet Jeremiah said that God rebuked him. Let's not miss out on the blessing of serving God and being able to do great and awesome things with the power that he is willing to give us.

~~~Nobody~~~

Today's lesson was pretty 'deep,' as y'all like to say. The whole idea of subjectivity and objectivity and how those ideas pertain to a written text is very philosophical. The subjective: that which we observe as filtered through our own consciousness and observation; the objective: truth as it IS, not as how we perceive it. The catch is that we can never observe or know anything apart from our perception of it. And apparently people were and are saying that because of this 'filter' of subjectivity, that it is impossible to know the 'true' meaning of an author's intent behind their written words.

I can see how easily people can go down this mental slope... 'Everything I write is colored and filtered through my subjective impression of the truth I am trying to convey. Everything my readers read is filtered through their subjectivity. So how could it be possible for readers to know the meaning behind my words?' But this is not true. The objective - the Truth, and Reality - exist, just as an author's true meaning exists.

So, is it legitimate to try to uncover an author's meaning in a text? John Piper says yes and so do I. If it wasn't, then what would be the point of reading in the first place? I think Piper's calling to be a minister relates to his desire to know if we can have access to the original meaning that an author intended because... well if it was not possible to discern the true meaning of the Bible, then being a minister of the Word of God would be completely conceited. Instead of teaching what God intended when He wrote (or caused to be written) the Bible, you would be teaching what you imagine the words to mean (yes=no or any such nonsense) and believing or asking others to believe that your impression carries as much weight as the true meaning of God's word. Yikes!

I understand the lesson, I'm just not sure what to take from it. Perhaps a renewed understanding of how God and the Bible relate to what I learned in Philosophy 101 (which was a great class!). Philosophical study can completely undermine ones belief, or strengthen it. The nature of Truth, that is, Objective Truth, is that it is true whether you believe it or not. And God is that Objective Truth/Reality. Whether or not you believe in Him, He is still there! I think the best thing I got out of philosophy is this: Just because you believe something doesn't mean it is True. And just because you don't believe in something does not mean it isn't True.

Today it seems that everyone is wrapped up in subjective truth to the extent that they have completely lost sight of actual Truth. "It is true for me... or this is what I believe so don't tell me differently..." We can't lose sight of the fact that there is a Reality and Essence of life apart from our perception of it. And this must come on faith - it is impossible to 'prove' Reality/Truth/God. And so many people think that because you must take God on faith that this means somehow that He could not be Real, or worthy of belief. So sad. What could be more worthy than following and trying to understand ultimate Truth? But every journey must begin with a leap of faith.

Anyway, enough rambling. Owen was so bored by this post that while I was writing it he went from kicking his legs and trying to eat a stuffed animal in his playpen to being asleep with his thumb in his mouth. So cute! Better start saving for his braces now, though. lol! Just because I want to believe that he won't need braces doesn't mean he won't!

  This is the time of the week where we look back and reflect. Here's the question from the DWYL: Study Guide for the completion of Lesson 9, "What was the most meaningful part of this chapter for you? Was there a sentence, concept, or idea that really struck you? Why? Record your thoughts in the space below."

 My Response: I think the part of Chapter 9 of Don't Waste Your Life that struck me right between the eyes was this quote from page 177.

No, you don't have to be a missionary to admire and advance the great purposes of God to be known and praised and enjoyed among all peoples. But if you want to be most fully satisfied with God as he triumphs in the history of redemption, you can't go on with business as usual-doing your work, making your money, giving your tithe, eating, sleeping, playing, and going to church. Instead you need to stop and go away for a few days with a Bible and notepad; and pray and think about how your particular time and place in life fits into the great purpose of God to make the nationas glad in him. How will you join the great global purpose of God expressed in Psalm 67:4. "Let the nations be glad and sing for joy"?

  Wow. Know what I mean? I think one of the things we (as humans, Americans, evangelicals, Christians) have settled for is "less." By "less", I mean God has created us for His glory and we settle for so much less. It's sad. And sinful. And John Piper is calling us to contemplate what God wants us to do for His glory and not our own. We are good at living for our glory. Well, I know I am...know how I know? Let me tell you....

  Every morning this is my routine, bathroom (if necessary), coffee, cereal.....see God in there anywhere? When I wake up, my first thought is for me. Sinful. I settle for my own glory rather than God's glory from my first waking moment.

  Back to living for God's glory and not our own. I think John Piper's suggestion to search your heart for a few days with serious prayer, Bible study, and meditation. And then pursue what God lays on your heart is a great idea.

  Now, my youth are gonna say, "But we can't take a few days and go away..." I know. But can you take your Bible (if you don't have one, I'll get you one) and a notebook and find a place to sit and think, and read, and meditate, and pray? Maybe the edge of a cornfield? Or a tree by a creek? Or a quiet place in the back of your neighborhood?

  This is a great idea that could be life-transforming for all of you. Seek God's direction for your life and not your own. That's awesome.

  Thoughts?

  Uncle Jeff

A Protestant from north-west Uzbekistan, Jandos Kuandikov, was arrested on 14 June and is still in detention before facing criminal trial on terrorism charges, Forum 18 News Service has learnt. Uzbek police have also recently falsely accused a Protestant refugee in Kazakhstan of terrorism charges. Amongst other recent violations of freedom of thought, conscience and belief, four Baptists in Tashkent Region - Natalya Ogai, Filipp Kim, Dmitri Kim and Nurlan Tolebaev – have been fined and sentenced to ten days' imprisonment, because of their peaceful religious activity. Fines continue to be imposed on other Protestants. However, in a highly unusual move, a court in the capital Tashkent found that charges against a Protestant had been fabricated and ordered police to be punished for this. But members of Tashkent's Hare Krishna community have been banned from taking part in a music and environment festival.

Read the whole article here

#5 in particular probably hits most of us between the eyes:

5) Spiritual Apathy

My spiritual life would be so much more vibrant and I would struggle with sin less if my small group were more encouraging, or if Sunday school were more engaging, or if the music in the worship service were more lively, or if the sermons were better.

  Today, we're moving through the last part of Chapter 7 in Don't Waste Your Life. This corresponds to Day 4 of Lesson 7 in the DWYL: Study Guide. I have to admit I had tears in my eyes as I read the section for this lesson.  John Piper writes about soldiers fighting for the US in Iwo Jima. It's heart-wrenching, heart-warming, convicting, and uplifting. Read that section. Your day will change...pages 122 to 129.

  Now for the question. Question 9: In this section John Piper discusses the courage and sacrifices of soldiers in WWII. What is the point of dwelling on these stories? What connection does John Piper want us to make to our lives?

  My Response: John Piper recounts the stories of soldiers fighting (some died, some survived) in WWII for a cause greater than themselves. They were fighting to end tyrrany, to bring freedom to the world, to stop oppression, and (eventually) establish some sort of worldwide peace. Now, each man may not have realized that...some were just hacked-off at the Japanese for bombing Pearl Harbor. Nonetheless, they were in a fight greater than themselves and their personal anger. What does that have to do with being a Christian and not wasting one's life? Lots.

  I work with youth and they are generally not concerned about things greater than themselves. Most are only concerned with their personal, unholy trinity-me, myself, and I. Clothes, makeup, hair, video games, fun, TV, sports, being cool, looking good, popularity, fads, food, ice cream , music, bands, computers, vacation, school, etc. All of these things are huge to teenagers and fill the mind with banal nothingness for the most part. The same can be said for adults if we just up the focus a bit - cars, house, job, TV, clothes, food, weight-loss, kids, family, Internet, boats, motorcycles, guns, etc.

  Are any of these things bad in and of themselves? Some are (popularity) and some are not (ice cream) but all are bad if the focus of one's life is a thing and not God. John Piper is trying to wake us from slumbering and lumbering through lives that mean nothing in the eternal expanse of God's greatness to lives that waken hearts and quicken pulses of those "dead in their sins" to a Holy God who loves them and wants to spend eternity with them. But we, as Christians, have Tivo-ed a baseball game or three episodes of "The Office," and we're tired so we better just go home and relax.....wasted life!

  Do we never get to relax? Heavens no, people! Don't be ridiculous, but I think (if we are all honest) much more of our free-time is spent relaxing or doing things that bring no glory to the name of Christ than working for the Kingdom of God.

  Any thoughts?

  Uncle Jeff

I saw this poster when Steph and I were walking around the mall the other day.

It made me kind of angry, and kind of ashamed of my country...

  It's early on a Monday morning and I feel like typing, so let's get to it. Today, we are starting on Lesson 7 in the Don't Waste Your Life: Study Guide which corresponds to Chapter 7 in John Piper's book Don't Waste Your Life.

  Each lesson starts with initial questions before you actually are supposed to read the chapter. This week I find all three questions to be particularly relevant and challenging; however, I will probably focus on the first question in the interest of length and time. (I don't want you to get bored and move on too quick.) So, check out the other two questions and feel free to comment with your thoughts.

  Question 1: If someone who did not know that you were a Christian observed the way you spend your money, the kind of clothes you wear, the way you spend your free time, and how you raised your family, would they notice a significant difference between you and the world? What sort of differences would they notice?

  My Response: This is not an easy one for me in that it is very convicting. Here's why - I hear many, many, many people say things like, "I don't want to tell people about Jesus. I want them to see I am a Christian by the way I live. I want to be Jesus to them." Really? How is that working for you? Are people coming up to you and saying, "Wow. You are so self-sacrificing and holy and loving and good...tell me about Jesus!" On that level, this convicts my heart.

  Secondly, I think it is good for those who claim the name of Jesus to consider what we do on a daily basis and how that is interpreted by a lost and dying world. Here's the deal: the lost and dying world I'm speaking of is not just millions in Africa, Asia, or Europe who need Christ, but the mom and dad and sister and brother who sit across from you at the dinner table each night who need Jesus. They see the way you live every day. How is your Christian witness (you love for Christ and the telling of His Gospel) coming through to them? Africans and Asians and Europeans don't live around me every day, but my neighbors and my youth group and my friends do...what are they seeing?

  So, what would they notice about your lifestyle that is different? About the way you spend your time? The way you live? Porter Wagoner, one of the greatest country music singers, ambassadors, and all-around talents, had a song years ago called, "What Would You Do? (If Jesus Came To Your House)" that talks about the changes you might make if Jesus came to spend a little time with you. So, what would you do different? And why don't you make that change every day in the knowledge that, in reality, Christ is with you? Think about it.

  I hope this will be a good week for you in the DWYL study. It is a good chapter that could cause you to make some changes...positive changes.

  Thoughts?

  Uncle Jeff

  Today we are basically covering all of Chapter 6 in the Don’t Waste Your Life book and this ties directly into Day 4 of Lesson 6 in the DWYL: Study Guide. In the words of Tone Loc, “Let’s do it.”

  For us to answer Question 10, we need to look at 2 Corinthians 1:24 and Galatians 5:22-23.  Here they are:

  Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. 2 Corinthians 1:24

  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

  Here’s Question 10: How can Paul say that he works with them for their joy and that joy is a fruit of the Spirit? Who produces joy in people—us or God? Can you think of other verses that describe this tension?

  My Response: I think Paul can honestly say that joy is a fruit of the Spirit and that he works with them for their joy and not contradict himself. They are two sides of the same coin. Here’s what I mean. Joy is given by God as a fruit of the Spirit. One of the means God uses to give joy to other is through fellow believers. That is why Paul can say he works with them for their joy.

  Paul is seeking the joy of the Christians God has given him to shepherd. How? Read chapter two of 2 Corinthians and you can get an idea of how Paul works with them church in Corinth for their joy. When Paul writes to the Philippians and tells them to “work out their salvation,” he is giving them a picture of what it means to work with them for their joy and to know that God gives the grace of joy.

  Paul writes, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (2 Corinthians 2:12-13). Notice how Paul tells them to work because God is working in them? Cool, huh?

  Have any other Scripture references that speak to this present reality of you working for your joy (and the joy of others in Christ) while God works in you?

  Thoughts?

  Uncle Jeff

To see all the "Don't Waste Your Life" videos, go to their youtube page or the website.

Every time I come across something I want to draw your attention to via this blog, I leave it open in a tab, in hopes that some day I'll have time to write what I really want to write about it.

...that hasn't happened in a while though

And now my computer tells me that it must reboot to apply some security changes, so I'm going to throw a few links at you before I have to close my browser. I hope you'll take time to look:

Uzbekistan TV Campaign Against Christians and Jehovah's Witnesses

This is something I experienced first-hand while I was overseas. People are literally brainwashed as their own fearless (revolting excuse for a man) leader comes on national television and tells them that Christians are only in their country to steal away their culture. And it's effective. Here's an excerpt (emphasis mine):

On Saturday 17 May state television broadcast in prime time a report describing such groups as a “global problem, along with religious dogmatism, fundamentalism, terrorism, and drug addiction,” actively involved in deceiving young people and minors.

The documentary featured Uzbek religious and political experts, state officials as well as representatives of the other religions, all of whom took a critical view of missionaries.

People are literally taught that the Gospel is as dangerous as terrorism or drug addiction.

I guess in a way it is...

Uzbekistan: Longest-Held Political Prisoner Free After Two Decades In Jail

The United Nations has decided that Uzbekistan has the 5th most corrupt government in the world.

And cotton is a big deal.

It's a cash crop.

Farmers are literally forced to grow cotton and sell it to their government at substandard wages, while their families starve because of the essential foods that are not grown instead. University students are forced to take 4-8 weeks during the summer to pick cotton for the government, for free. And this guy was sent to jail for most of his life, why: because he made it work. That's why there's such a pervasive sense of hopeless in Central Asia. Because it seems like people are punished for doing anything but suffering...

Why do I share this? Because I want you to pray.

Adoniram Judson's Advice to Missionaries

I found this on the Desiring God blog. If you don't know who Adoniram Judson was, then you owe it to yourself to look him up. Desiring God has some great free resources, and I believe for a dollar or two you can buy a 1 1/2 hour talk by Piper about his life. The short version of the story is: The Gospel is alive in Burmha because of Judson's amazing dedication and sacrifice. Here are a couple of his points to anyone who would be a missionary:

First, then, let it be a missionary life; that is, come out for life, and not for a limited term. Do not fancy that you have a true missionary spirit, while you are intending all along to leave the heathen soon after acquiring their language. Leave them! for what? To spend the rest of your days in enjoying the ease and plenty of your native land?

Fifthly. Beware of the reaction which will take place soon after reaching your field of labor. There you will perhaps find native Christians, of whose merits or demerits you can not judge correctly without some familiar acquaintance with their language. Some appearances will combine to disappoint and disgust you. You will meet with disappointments and discouragements, of which it is impossible to form a correct idea from written accounts, and which will lead you, at first, almost to regret that you have embarked in the cause. You will see men and women whom you have been accustomed to view through a telescope some thousands of miles long. Such an instrument is apt to magnify. Beware, therefore, of the reaction you will experience from a combination of all these causes, lest you become disheartened at commencing your work, or take up a prejudice against some persons and places, which will embitter all your future lives.

Eighthly. Never lay up money for yourselves or your families. Trust in God from day to day, and verily you shall be fed.

Seventhly. Beware of pride; not the pride of proud men, but the pride of humble men -- that secret pride which is apt to grow out of the consciousness that we are esteemed by the great and good. This pride sometimes eats out the vitals of religion before its existence is suspected. In order to check its operations, it may be well to remember how we appear in the sight of God, and how we should appear in the sight of our fellow-men, if all were known. Endeavor to let all be known. Confess your faults freely, and as publicly as circumstances will require or admit. When you have done something of which you are ashamed, and by which, perhaps, some person has been injured (and what man is exempt?), be glad not only to make reparation, but improve the opportunity for subduing your pride.

(Read all 10 here.)

Silk Road to the Present

This is an article from the Moscow Times about the city where I spent a year. It's funny to hear someone talk about the city from a tourist's perspective, but it's interesting none-the-less.

Uzbekistan: International Groups Blast Tashkent's "Media Freedom Conference"

Excerpt:

The idea was that major international rights groups -- including Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, the International Crisis Group, and the Open Society Institute -- would attend and contribute to a frank exchange on a topic that generally makes the region's leaders squeamish.

At the last minute, however, Uzbek officials scrapped the plans for an EU-Uzbek conference on civil society. Instead they staged an "Uzbek version" of the gathering that participants and would-be participants said fell far short of Brussels' goals.

This is how they role in that good ol' corrupt country.

Pray for Uzbekistan y'all.

HT: Don't Waste Your Life

            We are starting on chapter 4 of Don’t Waste Your Life this week. This corresponds directly with Lesson 5 in the DWYL: Study Guide. So, in keeping with the theme, let’s not waste this time….let’s go.

            On page 49 of the study guide, we are asked to read and reflect on Philippians 1:19-26. After doing so, this question is posed, “According to verse 20, what is Paul’s eager expectation and hope? How does verse 21 explain this hope? In your own words, restate Paul’s main point in verses 19-24.”

            My response: Paul’s eager expectation and hope is to not be ashamed (of what?), but with full courage he will honor Christ in his body—either by life or by death. He will not be ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16) or of His Savior, Christ. I don’t blame him for not wanting to be ashamed of Christ. Jesus said, “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38). In other words, if you are ashamed of Christ here among sinful men, then Christ will be ashamed of you in front of His Father. Not good. I’m with Paul on this one.

            Verse 21 explains Paul’s hope by saying that for him to live means he will live for Christ—unashamed and boasting in the cross and serving and humble and loving and sacrificing. However, if he should die, then it is gain—he will gain the eternal presence of His Savior in Heaven. Either way, Paul’s cool with the outcome.

            Paul’s main point is this: with the prayers of the saints and the help of the Holy Spirit, Paul wants to honor God in his body either through life or death. Life will mean more opportunity to serve those God has placed in his care. Paul’s death will be an eternal opportunity to be with Christ. Either way, Paul is secure in the outcome.

            Question 2 states, “Is there a divine design in our suffering? Does God have purposes for the suffering and pain in your life? If so, what are these purposes? Use the Bible to support your answer.

            My response: I think the Bible clearly states that to follow Christ is to suffer in this life, but to rest eternally in His presence in the next life. I’ll give some Bible verses for you to look up and a short explanation after each.

            Romans 8:28 – the obvious “all things work to good” verse.

            Luke 9:23-24 – “take up his cross daily and follow me.” No one can take up a cross without suffering—can’t happen.

            Hebrews 12:5, 6, 11 – God disciplines those whom He loves and the discipline of the Lord “yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

            Romans 5:3 – this verse speaks of rejoicing in suffering as it produces endurance

            2 Timothy 1:8 – share in suffering for the Gospel. Do not be afraid or try to avoid suffering, but share in it.

            Hebrews 2:10 – God made the “founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”

            Now, to answer the questions in light of these verses (there could be many more, but y’all get the idea). Is there a divine design to our suffering? Yes. Why do I think this? Because God is sovereign, He controls all that happens, He makes the rain fall and the wind blow and He surely knows, controls, and is interested in all things that affect His children.

            God does have a purpose for the suffering and pain in each life. How do I know this? Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” All things work together for good. Awesome!

            Ultimately, God has us suffer so we can be perfected through fire and trial and pain as precious metals are purified by heat and pressure. This is His design and plan and it is perfect as He is perfect. If God had His Son (the founder of our salvation) suffer, why do we think we should have anything less?

Thoughts?

Uncle Jeff

  We are wrapping up our look at chapter 3 of Don’t Waste Your Life today. This is our opportunity to look back at chapter 3 and reflect on this week’s work. Let’s do it.

  Question 11 on page 43 of the DWYL: Study Guide says, “What was the most meaningful part of this chapter for you? Was there a sentence, concept, or idea that really struck you? Why?”

  My response: For me, the idea of living a God-glorifying life is an exciting yet confusing prospect. Why? Well, how do we live it? I’ve grown up in church and seen a lot of people do a lot of things in the name of Christianity (or in spite of the name of Christ). How can we live a God-glorifying life everyday—no matter what? I like how John Piper wraps up this chapter. I shall quote him extensively,

            “Christ is the glory of God. His blood-soaked cross is the blazing center of that glory. By it he bought for us every blessing—temporal and eternal. And we don’t deserve any. He bought them all. Because of Christ’s cross, God’s elect are destined to be sons of God. Because of his cross, the wrath of God is taken away. Because of his cross all guilt is removed, and sins are forgiven, and perfect righteousness is imputed to us, and the love of God is poured out in our hearts by the Spirit, and we are being conformed to the image of Christ.

            Therefore every enjoyment in this life and the next that is not idolatry is a tribute to the infinite value of the cross of Christ—the burning center of the glory of God. And thus a cross-centered, cross-exalting, cross-saturated life is a God-glorifying life—the only God-glorifying life. All others are wasted” (59).

            I want that.

  Question 12 says, “List four practical steps you can take to make all of your enjoyment in life a ‘boasting in the cross.’ (Hint: relate the truth of this chapter to your job or school, your family, your hobbies, and your ministry.)”

  My response: This question makes one put their money where there mouth is—it’s go time. So, let’s go. First of all, as a youth pastor (my job and ministry) it is fairly easy to “boast in the cross” while working. My personal challenge is communicating the love of Christ to those I know outside of church/work—particularly my oldest friends from childhood, friends from placing I’ve lived, and family. I can jam all kinds of “Jesus talk” at church with no problem, but how do I tell my closest friends and family about Him and His love? That’s tough, isn’t it? Why?

  Well, because I love my friends and family and I want our relationships to be good, not strained, or weird, or tense. But, let me pose this question to myself, “If you claim you love your family and friends, wouldn’t the most loving thing you could do—no matter the personal or temporary consequences—would be to tell them of Jesus Christ and His love for them and His death for their sins on the cross so they could be adopted into the family of God?”

  Another aspect that makes it tough is these people have known me a long, long time. They not known only “Pastor Jeff” but they’ve known me as a lot of things—son, brother, nephew, grandson, friend, girl-chaser, girl-catcher, boyfriend, ex-boyfriend (lot of girls are in this category), etc., etc. Do you get my drift? I’ve left out the really bad titles, but the idea is there. How can I come telling them about Jesus when I’ve been the very guy leading them astray for so long? It’s tough.

  So, here are my four practical steps that this very convicting study guide is asking for:

1.      Keep my relationship with Jesus Christ first and foremost in my life, my mind, and my heart. I need to realize, acknowledge, embrace, cherish, love, and enjoy my relationship with Christ everyday. That life and love will spill over into others lives.

2.      Pray that God will grant me more opportunities to tell others of His love for us, especially to those whom I have hurt, injured, destroyed, or misled by my previous bad choices. In addition, I pray that He will continue to place me in places of influence as I move forward in this life and ministry, so I can speak of His love.

3.      I need to realize that all good things and blessings in this life come directly from God the Father. Every breath is a gift. Every heartbeat. Knowing this and believing it will make one “boast in the cross” out of a feeling of pure joy and gratitude.

4.      Finally, I need to get off my butt and make the most of the opportunities that God gives me. God does not “need” me to get His work done. But, He does allow me to be a part of His work on earth as a gift and I want to grab that gift and work for all I’m worth.

This has been a tough one for me. Thoughts?

Uncle Jeff

Since my last post had more views in a five day period than anything I’ve posted I thought (like a good Hollywood producer) that I would follow it up with a sequel. But this time instead of limiting myself to more kinda, sorta random quotes on writing and life from mostly screenwriters I’ll open up the floor for others.

"I never expected any sort of success with Mockingbird."
                                                                                 Harper Lee
                                                                                To Kill A Mockingbird 

"The best work that anybody ever writes is the work that is on the verge of embarrassing him, always."
                                                                                Arthur Miller 

"The awful thing about the first sentence of any book is that as soon as you've written it you realize this piece of work is not going to be the great thing that you envision. It can't be."
                                                                                Tom Wolfe 
"A writer's courage can easily fail him."
                                                                                E.B. White 

"I have so many demons and voices telling me what a fraud I am and how my meager talent will be uncovered." 
                                                                                Scott Frank 
                                                                                Oscar nominated screenwriter
                                                                                Out of Sight, Minority Report,
                                                                                Get Shorty 

"No one can give you the secret of screenwriting because no such secret exists. No one knows exactly how to write a superior screenplay. It is a matter of instinct and experience- or talent, living, learning and practice."
                                                                                Edward Dmytryk
                                                                                Director, The Caine Mutiny 

"If you were to just focus on a day job and work really hard - you'll probably make about as much (if not more) than you will writing scripts. With less hassle and more peace of mind."
                                                                                 William Martell 
                                                                                 Screenwriter, 
                                                                                 West Coast Editor
                                                                                 of Scr(i)pt Magazine  

"The ancient commission of the writer has not changed. He is charged with exposing our many grievous faults and failures, with dredging up to the light our dark and dangerous dreams for the purpose of improvement."
                                                                                 John Steinbeck
                                                                                 Speech at Nobel Prize Banquet

"It's much easier to do the impossible than the ordinary."
                                                                                 Ken Kragen
                                                                                 Entertainment Lawyer/
                                                                                 Manager & Organizer of
                                                                                 We Are the World
                                                                                 & Hands Across America 

“The secret of life is enjoying the passing of time.”
                                                                                 James Taylor

“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was?
                                                                                 Satchel Paige

"The problem with the rat race is even if you win you're still a rat."
                                                                                 Lilly Tomlin 

“The only way to rise above the pack is not be a part of it.”
                                                                                 Don Hewitt
                                                                                 Creator/Executive
                                                                                 producer 60 Minutes 

"If we couldn't laugh we'd all go insane."
                                                                                 Jimmy Buffett

"The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter."
                                                                                 Mark Twain 

“The idea that your career is your life is a great misconception. Your career is just one of the tools to help you have the most fulfilling and successful life possible.”

                                                                                 Ken Kragen
                                                                                 Life is a Contact Sport
                                                                                  

“Who have you ever heard, as the lay on their deathbed, say, 'Gee, I should have spent more time on my business'?"
                                                                                  Lee Iaciocca

My goal when I began this Diablo Cody-inspired blog on screenwriting was to bring some structure to my many notes in hopes of preparing this for a book. I set a mark in January of 50,000 words by the first day of summer (June 20). It seemed like an ambitious goal, but my last post on May 31 actually surpassed that goal. I'll continue to post on screenwriting up until June 20 because I have a few more areas to flesh out. And then I'll reevaluate the direction I'll head.

After all, I don't want to waste my life just reading and writing blogs. And I've started two new screenplays since I began this blog so there is other work to be done. Thanks to everyone for visiting over the months because without a growing list of views on my Wordpress stat chart I'm not sure I would have been motivated to complete my 50,000 word goal.

And a special thanks to Mystery Man on Film for his screenwriting blog that has pointed many people my way. His blog is kind of a greatest hits of screenwriting sites. Way too much information there. But a better place for a writer to spend time than watching TV, playing video games, or looking for real estate deals in Hawaii you plan on buying once your script sells.

copyright @2008 Scott W. Smith 

I found this on Piper's Blog. It's funny and it drives a point home!