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Barnabas Piper's Blog, page 15

June 26, 2024

June 25, 2024

Curious Curmudgeons Episodes 7 and 8 – The Purpose of Pain and Finding Your Own Faith

What happens when the unexpected storms of life turn your world upside down? Adam opens up about his harrowing experience with multiple lung collapses and surgeries during a time he least expected it. His story serves as a powerful reminder of how unplanned events can alter our life’s path, and how finding wisdom and comfort during these times can be transformative.

As we move forward, we delve into the raw and often painful journey of life after divorce. We candidly address the complex emotional aftermath, including reorienting one’s identity and decisions in the wake of such significant change.

We explore finding purpose amidst suffering, the significance of supportive relationships, and the importance of walking in obedience towards redemption. Psalm 138:8 becomes a cornerstone of comfort, emphasizing that God’s plans prevail even in the face of chronic illness and pain. We also highlight the critical role of community and friendships, urging listeners to focus on embodying the fruits of the spirit. Through poignant examples and heartfelt reflections, this episode offers hope and encouragement for anyone grappling with the unpredictable challenges life throws their way.

Listen to Episode 7

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What happens when faith becomes more than just a family tradition? Join us in the final episode of the Curious Curmudgeon podcast’s inaugural season, as we explore the profound journey of personal conviction in Christ. We’ll share Adam’s transformative experience at 16, shedding light on how to make faith truly personal and authentic. We also express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support throughout our journey and invite you to share this episode with friends who might find solace and inspiration.

Navigate the intricate path of faith through periods of doubt and personal failure with us. Discover the transformative power of scripture, particularly a poignant verse from Mark 9, and learn how wise mentors and a supportive church community can be pivotal during times of spiritual deconstruction and reconstruction. Hear personal stories, including the lasting impact of a sixth-grade teacher’s humility and biblical wisdom, that have shaped our understanding of faith.

In our final segment, we explore the awakening to genuine faith and the significant impact of mentorship. Understand how encounters with authentic Christian living shift faith from fear-based to love-grounded. We also reminisce about our favorite quotable movies from our youth and share our frustration with podcast banter that often strays from the main topic. Thank you for journeying with us, and stay tuned for more exciting themes and topics in the next season!

Listen to Episode 8

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Published on June 25, 2024 05:35

June 24, 2024

Supernatural Togetherness in Christ

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21)

In John 17, Jesus prays what is often known as the “High Priestly Prayer,” in which he speaks to his Father on behalf of his disciples and the church through the ages—all those who would one day believe in him through the preaching of the gospel. (That’s right, Jesus prayed for you!)…He wants us to be one—that is, unified in him in the same way that he is unified with his Father. This isn’t something we can just commit to and make happen by best intentions and good hustle. But Jesus wouldn’t desire a thing for us that he doesn’t also make available to us. So there is a built-in promise here. This is a supernatural kind of togetherness, given to believers by the Holy Spirit. It is the kind of togetherness that isn’t defined by how we are similar to one another but rather that overcomes differences the world around us might see as insurmountable barriers. (Ephesians 2:11-22 explains and portrays this magnificently.) Jesus is promising that his Spirit will reside in his church and be our unifying, defining reality.

Jesus also makes clear that he wants us to know and show his love; he wants us to be with him. He is offering and promising a context of absolute, unhindered belonging in and through himself. And it is not the kind of belonging that is self-serving and exists solely so that we as individuals can have our needs met and find a place of comfort. Yes, the church is to be that, but it is to be that “so the world may know that [God] sent [Jesus].” Our togetherness, our belonging, is to be a public evidence and invitation to the transforming, freeing, life-giving, comforting presence of Jesus Christ.

An excerpt from my book Belong: Loving Your Church by Reflecting Christ to One Another (The Good Book Company, 2023). 

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Published on June 24, 2024 04:56

June 21, 2024

3 Things I Like this Week – June 21

Each week (give or take one or two here and there) I share three things I like – It could be a book, a movie, a podcast, an album, a photo, an article, a restaurant, a food item, a beverage, or anything else I simply enjoy and think you might too. You can find a whole pile of things, especially books, I like and recommend HERE.

1. Beats Fit Pro – True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds

For a number of years I was an Apple Air pods user, and I liked them, but with two complaints. They were dainty (as in didn’t stand up to sweat and rain and whatnot) and they didn’t stay in my ears very well. So when mine crapped out (due to sweat and rain and whatnot) I needed a replacement that served my needs better and wasn’t $200. After a bit of research I settled on these Beats Fit Pro earbuds, and they are great. They are designed more specifically for active people. The sounds quality is great, as you’d expect from a name brand like this. I have very much enjoyed them and appreciated their more accessible price point.

 

2. GoodreadsIf you are a reader (by that I mean someone for whom reading is a hobby not someone who is able to read) you ought to use Goodreads. I started using it a few years ago and in short order it became a go-to site. It’s an ideal place to rate and review books. Most books aren’t worthy of a full and lengthy review, but they’re almost all worthy of some brief comment and recommendation of whether or not to read it. The overall ratings of books by thousands of other users functions as a nice guide, especially if it’s one you haven’t heard much about. You can find certain reviewers whose opinions you regularly appreciate and follow them closely for keener and more specific insights. It’s also a great place to keep track of books you’ve heard about and will want to read later. And lastly, it is one of the most helpful tools I’ve encountered for setting and keeping reading goals. Check it out. 3. Opinel Folding KnivesMost of us who carry pocket knives aren’t in survival situations very often. We don’t face combat. We’re not building shelters in the wilderness or escaping from captivity. We mostly open Amazon packages, trim strings, and do what might be considered basic household or office tasks. And that is why the Opinel folding knife is a great one to consider. It is compact, light weight, sleek, and sturdy. And it is relatively inexpensive. It the ideal knife to throw in a backpack or purse or briefcase to have on hand. This is not my favorite knife, but it is a great little tool to keep on hand for all your non-aggressive, non-macho knife needs.
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Published on June 21, 2024 06:57

June 20, 2024

10 Ways Creating Connects People to God

The aim of any follower of Jesus should be to draw closer to Him. We are disciples and disciples are followers, learners, and imitators. We live to be more like Jesus and share more of Jesus in all we do. It’s clear how we do this in ministry or spiritual disciplines or evangelism. But what does it look like in work or in creative ventures – art, music, film, writing, design, entrepreneurialism, philanthropy, volunteerism, and more? How can creating craw us closer to God? Here are ten ways.

1) Image Bearing

“So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.” – Genesis 1:27

What does it mean to be created in the image of God? The answers are too many to list or explain, so let’s just focus on one: created. We were created in the image of a creator. To use the active voice, the Creator created us in his image. This means, in part, that God created us to create. Humans are unique in all creation as creators, as artists, as envisioners and imaginers. This is God’s image in us, and as we create that image becomes clearer.

2) Considering Creation

Only God creates from nothing; the rest of us create using the world God created. That means we need to know this world, to consider God’s creation. The best creators are those who observe the most keenly. And those who observe the most keenly are seeing something of God’s handiwork in a unique way.

3) Connection to Creation

As we see and consider creation we find ourselves relating to it differently. I don’t mean this in some sort of pantheistic, god-in-everything way. I mean that we gain appreciation for aspects of creation we previously had never noticed or cared about. We find ourselves drawn to new things for inspiration or to new places for reflection and rest. We find new genres and styles of art speaking to us. In all of this echoes the voice of God and on all of this lies His finger print. Appreciation for creation, in its proper place, is appreciation for the creator.

4) Connection to Creators

When God created the earth He did not do so in isolation. He did so with His Trinitarian self. If that sounds mind bending and confusing that’s ok – it is. God’s fellowship within Himself is one of the most mysterious, wonderful, and marvelous aspects of who He is. What it means for us is also wonderful and marvelous: we are not created to be isolated beings. Our image bearing is communal, especially because no one of us can reflect even an iota of who God is by ourselves. We need each other, and one way we connect is through creating. Art draws art lovers together. Collaboration enhances each other’s efforts. Music and film are celebrated and enjoyed with others. We can create by ourselves, but creativity at its fullest is a connecting bond between people.

5) Exploration and Discovery

A potter can make the same pot over and over again. A composer can write the same chord progression ad nauseum (just listen to modern worship music or pop country tunes). A journalist can take the same angle on every story or harp on a single cause piece after piece. But at some point these creative efforts stop being creative and simply become production of a product. The best creativity is curious – it explores and discovers new styles, truths, realities, places, people, stories, images, and other reflections of God’s handiwork. If we want to continue in creativity we must continually seek out new opportunities and influences, and as we do we encounter numerous opportunities to appreciate the almost seemingly infinite depth of creative variety in God’s world.

6) Learning Limitations

God has limitless goodness, power, and creativity. His “wondrous knowledge is beyond me.” (Psalm 139:6) “He spoke, and it came into being” (Psalm 33:9) – the entire universe created with a few syllables. While it’s obvious that we do not hold this same power our sinful hearts never cease to believe that maybe just maybe we would be better off if we were lord of our own lives. But then we try to create. We burn dinner, we crack the sculpture, we smudge the painting, we miss a note, we overlook a flaw. Our creations are imperfect. The best work we ever do may be brilliant, but all the blood, sweat, time, and tears we poured into it can’t bring it to the level of genius God showed by creating the heavens and earth, the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, the night and day. He speaks sublime creation into being while we sweat and strive and seek to reflect just a fragment of that with our work. Our limitations and flawed work are a reminder and invitation to revel in the majesty and genius of God.

7) Deriving

To call an artists work “derivative” is an insult. It means it was drawn from someone else’s work, a poorly disguised imitation, and possibly a theft. But every creative effort we put forth is derivative of God’s work. He made everything from nothing – every shade of color, every musical scale, every syllable and metaphor, every medium, every idea. All we do is work with what God created. All we do is use the ideas and vision he gives us the ability to see to spin His creation into new forms. Our deriving is an honor to God, and when we recognize from who we receive our abilities we find a new connection to Him as First Creator.

8) Dependence

Just as we derive all creative ability and opportunity from God so we depend on Him for it. Our minds depend on Him for ideas and clarity and truth. Our hearts depend on Him for inspiration and passion. We depend on Him for circumstance providing opportunities. Even as we diligently work we recognize that any success is a gift from God. He is the provider of everything from idea to effort to materials to opportunity to response. What a gift.

9) Growth

The creative process mirrors spiritual growth in many ways. Creators are either improving and expanding or they are stagnating. Creativity takes discipline and purpose. It thrives on inspiration and community. It depends on more mature and learned people to teach and set examples. Pride kills it while humility and willingness to correct mistakes and learn from them ignites it. One person’s discovery and growth can spark discovery and growth in others. See? The similarities are striking.

10) Expressing Truth

The best creative efforts express truth. This doesn’t mean they make statements; it means they reflect aspects of God and God’s will for the world. As we’ve seen creativity itself is a reflection of God, but when it is done in dependence on Him and with intentionality it will express even more: beauty, lament, healing, grace, justice, mercy, stewardship, and so much more. Some creative efforts use words and statements to express truth clearly. Others use images and sound to draw people’s hearts and imaginations toward God. Both are expressions of truth about God and what God intends for His people and His world.

This post was originally published at Bible Study Tools.

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Published on June 20, 2024 02:07

June 19, 2024