Are we all prophets? Ez 3:18, p283

Warren says we are responsible for unbelievers around us that we interact with. He quotes Ez 3:18 “...I will hold you responsible for their death.” Well, gee, that seems like a pretty heavy burden to bear. I think this verse is taken out of context though. Ezekiel was a prophet. A prophet delivered specific messages from God and many times those were to warn of sin. If God gave Ezekiel a message of warning and he didn't deliver it, then I understand God holding him responsible. Even as Christians I don't think we have that same responsibility as a prophet. We are to share Jesus, show Jesus to those around us. But to announce ourselves as prophets of God with a message about their future—they might think we're beyond weird.

Weak p272-73

“Your weaknesses are not an accident. God deliberately allowed them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating his power through you. God has never been impressed with strength or self-sufficiency. In fact, he is drawn to people who are weak and admit it.” Is it just me or have some churches not communicated this? God uses the weak and imperfect. God gave us our weaknesses, created us with flaws for a reason. God will help us overcome our weak? God also uses our weakness. God works with and through our weakness.

Pointing fingers or making God look good, p268

“Competition between God's servants is illogical for many reasons: we're all on the same team; our goal is to make God look good, not ourselves.” This is why I don't understand why more churches can't work together. Why is time spent saying who is a better Christian? I guarantee that is not making God look good.

Is it self-sacrifice or true humility, p265

“This is true humility: not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less.” Whethere some churches preach self-sacrifice or people just interpret to the point of self-neglect. Serving so much, constantly pouring onesself out, without tending to your own needs, and being refilled will obviously burn a person out.

Distraction or Opportunity

P259 “Real servants do what's needed, even when it's inconvenient … being a servant means giving up the right to control your schedule and allowing God to interrupt it whenever He needs to.” But how do you know when it's God interrupting or when it's Satan trying to distract? P261 “Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks. The little things in life determine the big things … before attempting the extraordinary, try serving in ordinary ways.” Sometimes I wonder of I'm being steered off course by God because I'm going the wrong direction or I need to learn something. Or am I being steered away as a distraction by Satan from what God wants me to do. Is it the little things, the seemingly insignificant things God wants me to focus on or are those the things Satan is throwing in my way.

Finding a place

P 251 “What do I really enjoy doing most? When do I feel the most fully alive? What am I doing when I lose track of time?” Watching TV? Scrolling through Facebook? Oh, I suppose those don't count. Reading. Writing. An odd mix of the Bible, Sci-fi, speculative ficiton. For a long time I thought these could not co-exist. Then I found Michael Angley, Madeline, L'Engle, Lis Weihl, Frank Perreti and wondered if it really could be possible. Now I am also finding magazines and/or literary journals specializing in fantasy and speculative fiction. Perhaps I can find my place in this crazy world.

Identity

P234 “God formed every creature on this planet with a special area of expertise … You are a custom-designed, one-of-a-kind, original masterpiece … He would not give you abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality, and life experiences unless He intended to use them for His glory.” This is to every student who has wondered “Why am I here?” “What is my purpose?” “Who am I?” “Where do I fit in?” To all those who have answered, “You are a child of God” either elaborate on this canned response and help them realize their gifts and talents or find someone who can. It is important for social development for students to find a group with whom they can identify. God created us for relationships so students need to find the group whom they can trust.

What's really important?

P161 Focus on what we have in common not the differences. I think if Christians and churches could do this, it would have a huge impact on the world. When I hear Christians comparing who is the “better Christian” or who is “more saved” I remember the story of the woman caught in adultery and the men were taking her out to stone her. Jesus told the men, “He who has no sin cast the first stone.” No one threw. Jesus told the woman she was forgiven. We are all different in some way. God created us that way. But, as Christians we know we are forgiven and it is a gift. Isn't that what is really important?

Giving Yourself to God

P218 “The moment you open yourself to Christ, God gets a 'beachhead' in your life. You may think you have surrendered all your life to Him, but the truth is there is a lot of your life that you aren't even aware of. You can only five God as much of you as you understand at that moment.” I don't know if it is my own misinterpretation, but I think some teach as though we are holding back on God. It's not easy getting to know this person that is me. There is so much depth, so much to explore—and I change with time and experience.

Spiritual Maturity

P202 Spiritual Maturity Galatians 5:22-23 “Fruit always matures and ripens slowly” P217 It takes years to reach adulthood, a full season for fruit to ripen. Spiritual maturity, reaching our potential, is not going to happen over night. Give yourself and others time.

Conflict and Resolution

Conflict pp153-59 Are relationships always worth restoring? Is there a point when the emotional or mental well-being is more important than the relationship? I agree conflict resolution is not taught well. It should also be taught when to avoid conflict or when to create it. Actually, how to “fight” is not taught well either. P162 “Conflict is usually a sign that the focus has shifted to less important issues, things the Bible calls 'disputable matters'.” Actually, in my experience the conflict arises when believers consider disputable matters fundamental.

Church Home/Church Family (pp133-37)

I think it is important to have a church home/family for spiritual support—receiving and giving. When there is a tragedy in a family, Christians need their church family to help support their physical family. We need one another to lift one another up and grow. I disagree, though, that every Christian must serve within the church and might have a ministry beyond that. If God has called a believer to ministry outside the church, then they should be able to find rest, refuge and refilling within the church.

Tell God exactly how you feel (p110)

This is one of my favorite things I have learned as a Christian—that “God can handle your doubt, anger, fear, grief, confusion, and questions.” When Warren says “David's frankness actually reveals deep faith” in that “he believed God would listen to his prayer [and] he believed God would let him say what he felt and still love him.” How comforting to know!

Obedience as an act of worship (pp72-73)

This is the first installment of my Thinking Out Loud series on The Purpose Driven Life. I reviewed the book here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/973038551?book_show_action=false but also decided the best, most thorough way to deal with this book was to blog through my reactions. Warren claims obedience to God is an act of worship. However, I this this is a stretch. Sure it brings pleasure to God. Worship is adoring reverence, respect and awe. I don't think obedience can be put on that level. If it is then how do we draw the line between obedience to God as worship but obedience to someone else is not worship? (I know my kids' obedience is NOT an act of worship). Besides, we are to only worship God—no one and nothing else.