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Saturday, March 12, 2011

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

Francis Chan in his book, Crazy Love, challenges the reader to live a life that is crazy. A life an unbeliever would not understand, but a life that would show the world Christ's love. He suggests that we turn our lives upside-down for the Savior. Hope you enjoy the quotes below:

God is all-powerful. Colossians 1:16 tells us that everything was created for God: "For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him."

Don't we live instead as though God is created for us, to do our bidding, to bless us, and to take care of our loved ones?

Psalm 115:3 reveals, "Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him." Yet we keep on questioning Him: "Why did You make me with this body; instead of that one?" "Why are so many people dying of starvation ?" " Why are there so many planets with nothing living on them?" Why is my family so messed up?" "Why don't You make Yourself more obvious to the people who need You?"

The answer to each of these questions is simply this: because He's God. He has more of a right to ask us why so many people are starving. As much as we want God to explain Himself to us, His creation, we are in no place to demand that He give an account to us. p. 33

Turning inward is one way to respond; the other is to acknowledge our lack of control and reach out for God's help.

If life were stable, I'd never need God's help. Since it's not, I reach out for Him regularly. I am thankful for the unknowns and that I don't have control, because it makes me run to God. p. 45

It is not scientific doubt, not atheism, not pantheism, not agnosticism, that in our day and in this land is likely to quench the light of the gospel. It is a proud, sensuous, selfish, luxurious, church-going, hollow-hearted prosperity. p. 65

Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives. p. 69

Lukewarm people don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don't genuinely hate sin and aren't truly sorry for it; they're merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don't really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one. p. 70

Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion. p. 71

Having faith often means doing what others see as crazy. Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers. pp. 114-115

What are you doing right now that requires faith? p. 124

But God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through. p. 124


I've made it a commitment to consistently put myself in situations that scare me and require God to come through. When I survey my life, I realize that those times have been the most meaningful and satisfying of my life. They were the times when I truely experienced life and God. p. 169

I always want this to be the greatest message I'll preach in case I'm not here to give another one.

To order this book click here!


1 comment:

Italia said...

I enjoyed the book because it highlighted much of what we go through as Christians who want more but remain in the passive state of routine. It was motivational because it asserts the fact that there is more of God to experience if we want to.

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