This week we’ve received the news of the transition of Eugene Peterson. I have been deeply impacted by his life and work and continue to feel his impact that will last long past his time on this earth.
I’m also working my way through a biography of Dallas Willard, another spiritual giant in my life who continues his walk with Christ in the very presence of the Savior as well. Continue reading “Restore to me the sense of wonder”
“I’m not entirely against starting a movement, but most movements don’t amount to very much, frankly. On the other hand, people who know how to stand, and stand in the Spirit of Christ, change people all around them. They never fail… When you have that, it will never fail to change people all around you.” Dallas Willard, quoted in Becoming Dallas Willard
What is reality?
Who is well-off or blessed?
Who is a truly good person?
How does one become a truly good person?
None of these questions Dallas Willard posed in his life are about the “most sacred contemporary idol, feelings.” It is about the realm of knowledge. Knowledge was what Dallas was after.
— Becoming Dallas Willard by Gary Moon
“I pastored a Southern Baptist church in southern Missouri, and there some people in that church whose whole identity, I think, was tied to a self-righteous image. I discovered quickly I couldn’t change things when folks were determined not to change. In time, though, I realized that all around the church was a sea of dying people. I made friends outside the church and found plenty of people who were receptive to me.” — Dallas Willard in Becoming Dallas Willard by Gary Moon
Reading for today:
Psalms 131-133, 140, 142
Ex. 7:25-8:19
2 Cor. 3:7-18
Mark 10:17-31
We are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to the next degree of glory. (2 Cor. 7:18) Continue reading “Sufficient faith that rests in God”
Reading for today:
Psalms 121-126
Ex. 5:1-6:1
1 Cor. 14:20-40
Mark 9:42-50
The deep walk of faith is one of trust. We trust who we know. The lifelong pursuit of knowing God is critical so we can truly know him and out of that knowledge we can trust him. Continue reading “Desperate faith leads us to radical trust”
Apologetics is not a call to beat unwilling people into intellectual submission, but to be the servant of those in need. — Dallas Willard
We, as believers, need more lessons on “how to” bless others. Jesus honestly meant it. We are really supposed to bless others… not curse. Continue reading “The soul is meant for blessing”
“Your problem is not the first fifteen minutes of the day (what we would want to call “devotions”). It’s the next twenty-three hours and forty-five minutes. You must arrange your days so that you are experiencing total contentment, joy, and confidence in your everyday life with God.” (Dallas Willard quote in Soul Keeping, by John Ortberg)
There are moments where the Spirit shows up in my life to refresh me. I love those moments especially when I don’t realize how much I need it. Being in Ethiopia teaching for 2 weeks, I am loving life right now. Continue reading “Holy Moments and Sacred Ground”
