Book Review: Billy Graham in Quotes

Not many would ever argue the wisdom and power behind the words of Billy Graham. He has stood with dignitaries of the widest array and never wavered in his presentation of the truth of Scripture. The heart of an evangelist has never been lost on this man.

This book is not a memoir. It is not a biography. It is a collection. It is a book for your reference shelf. It is sorted out in a way that makes it very easy to access exactly what you want each time you pick up the book. The arrangement of topics is not only a vast array; but it is easily accessible at the point when you need.

It is not a devotional book; though one could use it as such. There is so much information for the Christian's journey beautifully arranged in this book, you could spend moments or years soaking it all in at whatever capacity you wish and need.

As for me, this book will go on my closest shelf for easy access to a depth of knowledge you cannot easily neglect.

Thank you booksneeze and Thomas Nelson Publishing for an opportunity to review such a great book that is both rich and easily used.

Wild at Heart: in the city

What is it about downtown that makes me feel like John Eldredge? For those who don't get the reference, the majority of this entry will make no sense...well maybe it will.

I do enjoy being outside.  I love camping and I enjoy a good hike.  I do enjoy the mountains though I'm not too inclined to carry a pocket knife at all times or attempt to round up my meals with only my bare hands and my multi-tool (I do own one).

Though I do enjoy the outdoors, I actually sense myself "coming alive" when I am wandering the streets of midtown Chicago, San Fransisco, or Sacramento.  Something about being in the big metropolitan city atmosphere that makes me feel like Hiro on the first season of "Heroes" the first time he shows up in Times Square.  I feel like that every time.  I want to say hello to every uninterested city-dwelling passerby because everyone should be so excited to be there.

I like walking blocks at a time to a small "swanky" coffee shop to sit and read by the storefront window.

I like walking along with my white earbuds connecting my ears to my front jeans pocket.

I like finding a parking place (don't too much enjoy the search for one).

I enjoy old houses, studio apartments, and flats.

I enjoy small independent business among large corporate business.

I enjoy small city parks that almost feel like the mayor is playing a real life version of sims city where the city is dying of low oxygen and lacking recreation.

I enjoy diversity.

I enjoy visiting places "Christians don't normally go".

I enjoy endless individuals, which represent endless relationships I could have.

I enjoy that thing in my heart that leaps at the vision of me getting to know a lot of people in this room, this coffee shop, this park, this city.  It is that thing that leaps within me to think about how many friendships I could create down here, and how many of those friendships could lead to a difference made in how someone sees Christians.

How many people could I meet downtown that could one day be talking to someone else who says, "I hate Christians.  All Christians are..."  Could the people I meet say to their friend, "Well, I actually have this friend I met at the coffee shop who is different than that."

My heart leaps at the possibility of building life-changing friendships before or even instead of converts.

There are so many friendships to be had downtown, and I would love to see people come to Christ, but there are a lot of people who need to trust Christians before they will ever trust Christ.

Now I am wild at my heart to make that a reality in a place where I feel God's pleasure on my heart every time I am there.

How Arrogant Am I

How arrogant am I! Turns out, quite a bit! Colossians 1 tells us that we are all created by God for God.

It reminds me of the joke about the cat and dog.  The dog says, "You feed me. You pet me. You give me shelter; you must be God." The cat says, "You feed me. You pet me. You give me shelter; I must be God." I think there is an entire book written about "Cat and Dog Theology", but here's the deal I am trying to learn at this moment:

How often do I treat God like I was created to be served by Him, or worse yet, that I created Him so that he would serve me?

When I take a moment to reflect on my worship, my prayer life, my faith overall, I am sobered by how arrogant I really am.  I have treated God as though it is His job to be at my beckon call; as though he were created for me and not the other way around.

How much time have I spent asking that God take care of ME, bless ME, heal ME, be with and take care of MY friends and family? Now I realize we are told to ask and it will be given, seek and we will find, but is that all I have done?

Perhaps the answer lies in what happens in my heart when those requests are NOT answered as I request or expect.  Do I get frustrated with God? Do I expect an explanation from God? Honestly, how many times have I asked God "why" as though His work and choices need to be checked; much less checked by ME?

Daniel 4:35 says, "All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.  He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to Him: 'What have you done?'"

All those times I have wanted to ask God "WHY!" God is not obligated to answer those questions.

How arrogant I have become!

my name is alarm clock

I found myself cornered by my owners anger toward me.  That jerk got angry at me when I did what he set me to do.  He was angry at me for "going off" at the time I was predetermined to go off.  He had asked me to go off at a certain time and then hit me in anger when I went off.

I was durable though.  I know I serve a great purpose in my owner's life.  I assure his presence in the right places at the right time, which really makes all the frustration and anger worth it.

Straight and Broken: part 2

Though the path be straight and narrow, there is no promise that path will not be bumpy or broken. Throughout the Proverbs, there is strong "pathway" imagery to communicate where our hearts should stay and where we should avoid. Often the path we are told to stick to is that which is straight and narrow, because that is the pathway God lays before us. It is the path which leads to Him. It is the path which leads to life.

We are to avoid the wandering path set before us by enemies and various temptations. This is the wandering pathway which leads to nowhere. It is the wandering pathway which also leads our hearts to death.

While the straight and narrow path may be broken and bumpy, it is still straight. We can be assured that continuing straight will lead us to life, hope, and ultimately, Christ.

While the wandering path may be smoothly paved with enticement, comfort, and ease, it is still aimless and leads to death.

We may choose the rocky road that is straight to the top, or we could choose the paved switchbacks that never end but in death.

Straight and Broken

We have been told to trust God with all of our heart, quit trusting only our understanding, and He will make all our of paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6) My faith and life have seemed to come with a continual reminder over the last couple months. Though the path provided for us is straight and narrow, never are we promised that path will be without difficult bumps. 

There is reassurance that you are still on the right path even when it is difficult. Just keep going straight.

Honor of Honors: my best book review I've yet to write

I received the direct message a week ago on twitter from David C. Cook asking me to read and review Brennan Manning's soon-to-release book All Is Grace: a ragamuffin memoir. As you are likely aware, Brennan is a bit of a hero to me. I had imagined my chance to have a hotdog with him would be my only proudest moment. So this request to read and review my hero's book before it officially releases in October is something I am much more than excited to do.

I am honored and humbled by the opportunity.

QUESTION: What are the lies OTHER people tell themselves?

After yesterday's post, I wanted to rephrase the question for further answers. Yesterday, the question brought great answers regarding the lies we tell ourselves. I intentionally listed that question first as I imagined that today's question is easier to answer. It is always easier to see the problems other people have than our own. But question remains for today.

The question: What are the lies OTHER people tell themselves? The context: whatever you like (about relationships, about our faith, about work, about creativity, about addictions, about passions, about life in general)

Examples: He will love me if I put out. My dream is not worth pursuing because…. They don’t and couldn’t like me because… I will always be alone. Life is pointless. God could never love ME.  Facebook is real community. The Raiders are a good football team. This product will make my life better. I deserve this.

Please respond with your answers here.

You mail email your anonymous responses to info@ragamuffinpc.com 

QUESTION: What are the lies we tell ourselves?

I am working on a project right now, and I need your brainstorming feedback. The question: "What are the lies we tell ourselves?" The context: whatever you like (about relationships, about our faith, about work, about creativity, about addictions, about passions, about life in general)

Examples: He will love me if I put out. My dream is not worth pursuing because.... They don't and couldn't like me because... I will always be alone. Life is pointless. God could never love ME.  Facebook is real community. The Raiders are a good football team. This product will make my life better. I deserve this.

So, the question has been asked; please respond here with your answers.

You may anonymously email your lies to info@ragamuffinpc.com

For my childhood

For my childhood, I'd like to thank: - orange Nerf footballs - Toaster Strudels - Looney Toons - Super Tecmo Bowl - Big Foot monster truck - Hulk Hogan (and the Hulkamaniacs) - Banana Seats - Used word processor - Muncie Mission - Bottle Rockets - Semi-truck wall paper - Tennis-shoe blanket - Generic brands - Pegged jeans and Eastland shoes - Mrs. Davidson, Mr. Osborn, and Mr. Mason - "Pandoubty" - Mrs. Skinner sunday school - Homemade pizza - Homemade ice-cream - Staying up late to watch the superbowl - books (made of paper)

For the Ragamuffins [poem, rough cut]

this is for the broken onessmart enough to know how foolish they are this is for the ones who have tried and found life lacking This is for those not content to confess that THIS is all there is

this is for wearied ones fighting the fads of wondering if our crying hearts might drown us It is for those who know our tears are telescopes to heaven looking through trembling lenses for hope and deeper senses of home

this is for those who don't need church to be a menagerie of SAINTS but an emergency room for sinners It is for those whose shadows are faint from finding too much light

It is for those who step out onto nothing hoping to land on something because accepting that you are accepted is a perception of yourself not everyone can afford

But this is for the wobbly and weak-kneed who have let loose the luxury of denying a handout of amazing grace

This is for those who chose a path, though straight and narrow, is still rugged and beaten

You are still on the right track

This is for the phobic confessors who could never match the projections Of the pious It is for those to whom perfection is a gangly wire no one could ever walk

This is for the child who holds that heaven is full of five-year-olds sparing themselves the futility of proving themselves to people who will never speak their language Of half cartoon, half boo-boo, and half "Daddy, I love you."

3 halves make one more than whole

Do not accept yourself only as you should be but as you are because you will never be as you should be

Quit rinsing your filthy rags in gas station bathrooms as if hand soap and make-believe will make them believe you belong

But you belong

You belong to a kingdom belonging to people not trying to be cleaner than they are

You belong

This is for the sin-soaked and broken who are loved and outspoken knowing un   worthy is not the same as worth   less

This is for the paupers who have made peace with their flaws and their friends it is for those who have prayed in silence but never ceased to pray

This is for you Do not for one second take it for granted

Be certain your gift is contagious

Though it is yours to have it's value is only in it's giving away

Make sure your every conversation leaves a sensation of love

Because this

is where the mighty descend and the lowly rise to comprise what we all crave

------

This piece is a sort of honor for a hero of mine. As I see video footage of Brennan, my heart sinks at seeing him fade away. This is still a very rough cut for this piece (I'm not even sure I'll keep the title). I want to take it to a couple writers' groups and see if I can refine it some more.