TheNorwoodHome

Occasionally I find things that I think must surely be practical jokes. If they were jokes, most would be pretty funny. The things listed below are not jokes, though in some cases are still rather funny. Sad, but funny.

• I hope this DVD Bible does not signal the beginning of the end of the printed Bible. And just after I bought a new one…

• Move over Monopoly, Joel is in town!

• We can learn so much from the pagans
“This has remained Yong’s pressing question: Is it possible that the Holy Spirit is active not only among Christians of all denominations but also among believers of non-Christian world religions?”

• Church membership expands to include athiests?

• NEW (added after original post): Rick Warren believes you can be saved without knowing Christ? Now this is scary stuff.

I read a post today at Challies.com that disturbed me. In fact, it bothered me so much that I did not finish reading it the first time — I had to come back to it a bit later. Below I provide the quote that Tim included in the post. It is from a book by John Piper titled God is the Gospel, which is a book that I now see I must read.

The critical question for our generation–and for every generation–is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever say, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?

It disturbed me because of the tendency of my initial answer, and what that means about my commitment and life. I cannot say much more that Tim does not already say. You can read his entire post here.

Time passes so quickly. Childhood disappears. It happens earlier for some than for others, but it seems that it eventually ends for everyone. Tickle fights will lose their enjoyment. Coloring will become boring. Firecrackers will become annoying. Hikes will become more about the destination than the walk in the woods. Silly faces at dinner will be embarrassing instead of laugh-out-loud funny. Friends become a “boy” or a “girl” instead of a “friend.” Life becomes a series of things to endure or complete instead of a mystery, an adventure, a circus.

Does my father look back 30 years and wish he had done anything differently? Does he wish now that he could have wrestled just one more time? Thrown one more ball? Caught one more fish? Chased one more pirate or shot one more indian?

Will I look back in 30 years and wish I had done anything differently? I already look back three years with that wish. But right now the next 27 are a clean slate. Tomorrow is a clean slate. Tonight is yet a clean slate. I have my chalk — now get out of my way.