David Whiting Live

"Relational Paraplegic..." (a quote)

A quote I read months ago that I can't get out of my mind:

"He had the theological dexterity of a gymnast, but he lived like a relational paraplegic."

- Tim Lane & Paul Tripp, "How People Change"

Risk & Failure (a quote)

"If you’re going to risk and maybe fail, fail at something that matters. Fail gloriously so that even in failure, lives change."

Jon Acuff

Modesty & Harry Potter

Two of my girls really enjoy reading the Harry Potter series, and all three enjoy the movies. So as a family we are all slowly watching them together (I won't watch the next movie until I finish the same novel). I find them mildly amusing and enjoyable.

BUT - as of yesterday, I am now a big fan of Emma Watson (who plays Hermione in the movies). Look at what she said about modesty:

"I find the whole concept of being ‘sexy’ embarrassing and confusing. If I do an interview with photographs people desperately want to change me - dye my hair blonder, pluck my eyebrows, give me a fringe. Then there’s the choice of clothes. I know everyone wants a picture of me in a mini-skirt. But that’s not me. I feel uncomfortable. I’d never go out in a mini-skirt. It’s nothing to do with protecting the Hermione image. I wouldn’t do that. Personally, I don’t actually think it’s even that sexy. What’s sexy about saying, ‘I’m here with my boobs out and a short skirt, have a look at everything I’ve got?’ My idea of sexy is that less is more. The less you reveal the more people can wonder." - Emma Watson

In no way do I believe that Emma Watson is a devoted Christ-follower, but I sure wish her priority on modesty was followed by those who are Christ-followers!

Great Words from Spurgeon

Reading and experiencing various debates happening among those who hold the same theology is discouraging. Whether it is John MacArthur going after Mark Driscoll or fights within the Sovereign Grace movement - it is discouraging to read and experience.

Today, I came across this quote from Spurgeon. POWERFUL words that are great reminders for us all!

Perhaps another source of tears may suggest itself to you, namely sorrow in Heaven for our mistakes, misrepresentations, and unkindness toward other Christian brothers and sisters.

How surprised we will be to meet some saints in Heaven whom we did not love on Earth! We would not fellowship with them at the Lord’s Table. We would not acknowledge that they were Christians. We looked at them suspiciously if we saw them in the street. We suspected their zeal as being nothing better than a show and an exaggeration, and we looked on their best efforts as having sinister motives at the heart. We said many unkind things and felt a great many more than we said.

When we see these unknown and unrecognized brothers and sisters in Heaven, won’t their very presence naturally remind us of our offenses against Christian love and spiritual unity? I can’t imagine a perfect man looking at another perfect man without regretting that he ever treated him in an unkind manner.

I am sure as I walk among the saints in Heaven, I cannot (in the natural order of things) help feeling, I did not assist you as I ought to have done. I did not sympathize with you as I ought to have done. I spoke a harsh word to you. I was alienated from you. And I think you would all have to feel the same; inevitably you must. If it were not that by some heavenly means, and I don’t know how, the eternal God will so overshadow believers with the abundant bliss of his own self that even that cause of tears will be wiped away.

The PRODUCT Goal of Northridge Church

Here is a great quote by Peter Drucker (1909-2005):

All nonprofits have one essential product: a changed human being.

I think it probably should say, "All nonprofits SHOULD have..." or "All successful nonprofits have..." Northridge Church ought to be designed to be nothing less than an agent of supernatural transformation of lives.

Dying for Christ...

I read this quote from a man who was assassinated for his faith in Christ during Idi Amin's regime in Uganda. And I can't help but wonder if I would display this same bravery, love, and God-focus if I were in the same circumstances:

"I do not need to plead my own cause. I am a dead man already. My life is dead and hidden with Christ. It is your lives that are in danger, you are dead in your sins. I will pray to God that after you have killed me, He will spare you from eternal destruction."

 

One More Quote on Habits

Here is one more of my favorite quotes on habits:

Habit is either the best of servants or the worst of masters.

- Nathaniel Emmons

Another Quote on Habits

This quote applies to both positive and negative habits.

Habits are at first cobwebs, then cables.

- Spanish Proverb

Thoughts on Habits

Ephesians 4:22-5:20 is all about habit patterns ("way of life" - NIV). Certainly life is made up of our habits.

One of my favorite quotes on habits is this:

What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence.

- Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

The Secret of Concentration...

The secret of concentration is elimination.

- Howard Hendricks

This is SO true!!