I recently finished reading Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs. It’s an excellent book, though a little difficult to read due to the cramped printing (though it only comes to 99 pages because of it). Burroughs provides the Christian absolutely no excuse for not being content in Christ. To give you a little bit of flavor, I’ll list his 12 points on how to become content, found in the last chapter of the book. And this is only one chapter! I highly suggest you read it for yourself, with highlighter in hand to help find the main points.

1. The change has to come first on the inside.

2. Don’t be more involved in worldly things than you have to.

3. Make sure that you are where you are supposed to be.

4. Make it a habit of doing what you have been called to do.

5. Exercise faith!

6. Seek to be spiritually minded.

7. Don’t daydream of great things in your future.

8. Moritify your hearts to the world.

9. Don’t think too much on your afflictions.

10. Always assume God has the best of intentions for you.

11. Don’t conform your thoughts of what is right and good to what others think is right and good.

12. Don’t get caught up with the comforts of the world when you have them.

Originally posted 7-20-2007

So, it’s only appropriate that I read A Faith of Our Own: Following Jesus Beyond the Culture Wars by Jonathan Merritt this past week. It’s actually not officially released until today, but Amazon shipped my copy early. I’m glad as I’ve looked forward to reading it. I’m tired of answering the question in the title of this blog post when I tell people I’m not a Republican.

For the record, no, I did not vote for Obama and will not likely to in November. Totally beside the point.

The author and I are of a generation that’s fed up with the political antics of the generations ahead of us, particular those in the Church. Why would the comment “Obama hates America” made by student in my elementary class be followed by nods from several of the other students? These are kids who have been raised to praise God and country (a Republican-led one, preferably).

The book starts and ends appropriately on reflecting on the legacy of Jerry Falwell. As a Liberty grad, it was something that Jonathan had to address. I have a hardtime swallowing the Falwell message, but I can’t say what I would have thought if I had come-of-age in the 1970s or 80s.

For the first half off the book, I did little but nod. Jonathan paints a picture of non-partisan views I’ve come to embrace alongside many in the Church in my generation.

The second-half of the book make it worth the read. Jonathan addresses a more loving response to those with same-sex attraction and issues of homosexuality in chapter 6. The next chapter, “Give Me the Songs of a Nation” is a chapter I wish anyone who doesn’t understand the political shift of Bible-believing Millenials would read. We aren’t rejection traditional evangelical battles like abortion and gay marriage; we just have come to recognize the need for faith to influence all of our political views.

I kinda wish the book ended there. For me, I agreed with so much up to that point that I didn’t find it challenging. I wish I could say the same for the last couple of chapters, but if I’m honest I have to admit I don’t put hands and feet to my beliefs as much as I should.

As a German minister serving the medically-needy in India said, “Christians in America and Germany forget that it is not what you think or how much power you have or how you vote that changes the world. It’s your hands that do the changing.” (p. 142)

That is exactly what I needed to read. I hope you’ll pick up this book and be challenged, too.

“…and Elfride felt it would be absurd to turn her little mare’s head the other way [back home]. ‘Still,’ she thought, ‘if I had a mamma at home I would go back!’

“And making one of those stealthy movements by which women let their hearts juggle with their brains, she did put the horse’s head about, as if unconsciously, and went at a hand-gallop towards home for more than a mile. By this time, fromthe inveterate habit of valuing what we have renounced directly the alternative is chosen, the thought of her forsaken Stephen recalled her, and she turned about, and cantered to St. Launce’s again.

“This miserable strife of thought now began to rage in all its wildness. Overwrought and trembling, she dropped the rein upon Pansy’s shoulders, and vowed she would be led whither the horse should take her….

“She was impatient. It seemed as if Pansy would never stop drinking; and the repose of the pool, and the idle motions of the insects and flies upon it, the placid waving of the flags, the leaf-skeletons, like Genoese filigree, placidly sleeping at the bottom, by their contrast with her own turmoil made her impatience greater.

“Pansy did turn at last, and went up the slope again to the high-road. The pony came upon it, and stood crosswise, looking up and down. Elfride’s heart throbbed erratically, and she thought, ‘Horses, if left to themselves, make for where they are best fed. Pansy will go home.’

“Pansy turned and walked on toward St. Launce’s.

“Pansy at home, during summer, had a little but grass to live on. After a run to St. Launce’s she always had a feed of corn to support her on the return journey. Therefore, being now more than half way, she preferred St. Launce’s.

“But Elfride did not remember this now. All she cared to recognize was a dreamy fancy that to-day’s rash action was not her own. She was disabled by her moods, and it seemed indispensable to adhere to the programme. So strangely involved are motives that, more than by her promise to Stephen, more even than by her love, she was forced on by a sense of the necessity of keeping faith with herself, as promised in the inane vow of ten minutes ago.”
p. 109-110

What makes this book so remarkable to me is the amount that I relate to the main character, Elfride. She is moved by her emotions, prone to rash decisions, and very unwise at times, yet I’ve never identified with any other character as much as I have with her. There are many characters that I’ve wanted to be: such as Mary Anne (The Babysitter’s Club), Elizabeth (Pride and Prejudice), and Jo (Little Women), but I didn’t actually see myself in these characters. Yet this immature, emotionally Elfride (an ugly name, too!) I relate to!

Oh, and just in case you care, Elfride gets all the way to London and decides to back out of the elopement, which creates the possibility of scandal later when she wants to marry another man, Knight.

Originally posted 7-9-2007

Surprised by Grace

In Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels, Tullian Tchividjian (yeah, I don’t know how to say that either) presents the book of Jonah. Yes, that’s all this book is about.

I say that’s “all” but that’s not really true. Ultimately, the book is about the Gospel or “God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels” as the subtitle indicates. In Jonah, we see that God doesn’t give up on the idolatrous nations…but neither does he give up on his wandering prophet.

I’ve always enjoyed the story of Jonah. Jonah comes across as so dense…he just didn’t get God’s plan. And really, I like Jonah because I identify with him. It’s just always easier to see someone else’s flaws than my own. I love how Tchividjian points out that there is a good chance the author of the book is Jonah himself. If so, we know that he must have finally gotten at some point. Otherwise, it would have been full of excuses!

I think one of my favorite things about this book is that Tchividjian is he draws on representations of Jonah in art. There’s a whole section of pictures, all referred to and discussed in the text. In this visual culture, I think that’s very important. Besides, it’s refreshing given the traditional discounting of the fine arts in evangelicalism. I think he handles them in an appropriate, balanced way, using the images to draw attention to particular aspects of the story or Jonah’s character.

I highly recommend this book to anyone, regardless of whether or not they’re familiar with the book of Jonah. It would serve as both a good introduction as well as a good reminder.

Now I need to get my hands on more of Tchividjian’s books!

So, I’m calling it night before I had hoped. I even considered finishing my 24 hours of reading by staying up until 2…nope.

Since my last update, I’ve been reading A Million Suns. It’s been easy getting back in that world, and I’m amazed at how many tricks the author still had up her sleeves. Will enjoy continuing that tomorrow.

So, what have done?

7 books finished (4 started previously)
1347 pages read
619 minutes of audiobooks listened to
21:26 total reading time

I’ll easily be able to finish the 24 hours tomorrow or the next day! Good night!

Since the last update, I took a dinner/audiobook break and read Chu Ju’s House. Great choice for the Readathon as it’s a quick read. Up next is A Million Suns. I doubt I’ll finish it tonight, but I hope to get a good chunk read.

Stats of the Readathon:

7 books finished (4 started before the Readathon)
1271 pages read
567 minutes of audiobooks listened to
19:23 total reading time

I’ve decided to give up on Asimov’s Foundation series. Just can’t get into a book that skips through time…gives no chance for character development. Oh, well.

Next up will be Chu Ju’s House, at the recommendation of a friend. Should be a quick, good read.

Stats so far:

6 books finished (4 started before the Readathon)
1044 pages read
491 minutes of audio listened to
16:49 total reading time

I finished another book: Thirteen Reasons Why. I found it very interesting. I’m going to now start Foundation and Empire, though I may switch back to some non-fiction as well.

Stats:

3 books completed (2 began before the Readathon)
720 pages read
471 minutes of audiobook listened to
14:48 total spent reading

Before the pressure started building, I was doing a good job reading. Only listening right now, but will switch back when the ache lets up. I still have almost 100 pages to go in Thirteen Reasons Why.

I’m halfway to my weekend goal, yay! Stats:

2 books finished (started previously)
626 pages read
384 minutes of audiobooks listened to
12:18 total reading time

Since my last update, I’ve been reading Atlas Shrugged and started Thirteen Reasons Why. The second has been a good choice. I’ll keep reading it and hope to have it finished before my next update in a couple of hours. I think the Readathon is the only time I ever read a book straight through!

At this point my stats are as followed:

2 books finished
529 pages read
311 minutes of audiobooks listened to
10:10 total reading time