Jake Stoope > Recent Status Updates

Just finished chapter 3, “Christianity is a straight jacket”

Deep/complex thinking throughout the first 80% of the chapter. Keller does a good job of tying it together at the end. Christians are not living in a straightjacket because the most freeing thing humans can experience is true love! Primarily with God, but also with others! You should be okay losing freedom because of the freedom you have in Christ.

Is your view of God’s goodness directly attached to your own experience of happiness?

God is not your divine waiter. He does not give you happiness, good days, good times, whenever you order it. He is not just waiting to clean up your mess, or to accept your tip after receiving His services. Let God be God, stop ordering Him around.

The Lord is near to those who call out to Him in truth.

“So many of our prayers are self-centered grocery lists of personal cravings that have no bigger agenda than to make our life a little more comfortable.” PDT

Familiarity blinds you from blessings

I am my biggest danger

There will always be fear in your ministry
- Fear of God or fear of man
- Forgetting my value in Christ makes me look to people for value

Your source of awe will control your decision making. Creation doesn’t ask for your awe, it acts as a street sign that points to the ONE you should be in awe of. Dissatisfaction in life typically comes from idolizing something other than God.

“Prayer is not in itself meritorious. It lays God under no obligation nor puts Him in debt to any. He hears prayer because He is good, and for no other reason.”

“Only as we have complete assurance that He is faithful may we live in peace and look forward with assurance to the life to come.”