Monday, April 21, 2003

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.

- Mark Twain

Finally, I have decided on the top ten books that I will read for the summer. Aside from the required readings that the committee will read together, I have chosen the following ten books for personal study. I will actively be taking notes about each of the ten books, and hopefully retaining more information. Alright, bring on the books: 1. The Armchair Millionaire by Lewis Schiff & Douglas Gerlach A recommendation by my dad, he has always encouraged me to read financial books. Hopefully in reading such books, I will not have to deal with this real life burden, rather, I can faithfully trust in the Lord with my financial needs. 2. Knowing God by J.I. Packer According to Billy Graham, “Packer has the rare ability to deal with profound and basic spiritual truths in a practical and highly readable way. This book will help every reader grasp in a fuller way one of the Bible’s greatest truths: that we can know God personally, because God wants us to know him.” 3. The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer What can the call to discipleship, the adherence to the word of Jesus, mean today to the businessman, the soldier, the laborer, or the aristocrat? What did Jesus mean to say to us? What is his will for us today? Drawing on the Sermon on the Mount, Dietrich Bonhoeffer answers these timeless questions by providing a seminal reading of the dichotomy between “cheap grace” and “costly grace.” 4. Wild at Heart by John Eldredge Walk into most churches, have a look around, and ask yourself: What is a Christian man? Without listening to what is said, look at what you find there. Most Christian men are… bored. Eldredge invites men to recover their masculine heart, defined in the image of a passionate God. And he invites women to discover the secret of a man’s soul and to delight in the strength and wildness men were created to offer. 5. Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson This is a book that is fair-minded and meticulous analytical in christian theology. It is neither faddist nor overly innovative. It is biblical and classical in its treatment of the major issues. It provides a good survey of the historical material without being cumbersome. It is a major beginning text for systematic theology. 6. The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel Strobel turns his tenacious investigative skills to the most persistent emotional objections to belief – the eight “heart” barriers to faith. It is for those who may be feeling attracted to Jesus but who are faced with intellectual barriers standing squarely in their path. 7. Prayer – Finding the Heart’s true home by Richard Foster Foster offers a warm, compelling, and sensitive primer on prayer, helping us to understand, experience, and practice it in its many forms – from the simple prayer of beginning again to unceasing prayer. He clarifies the prayer process, answers common misconceptions, and shows the way into prayers of contemplation, healing, blessing, forgiveness, and rest. 8. Eyes Wide Open by William Romanowski Romanowski offers a fascinating guide for interpreting and evaluating popular culture as a Christian. His practical, analytical approaches to movies, music, and television programs provide tools for imaginatively and faithfully engaging the media that now saturates our lives. 9. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell Our nation and its institutions are crying out for leaders. John Maxwell shows us the true path to leadership through the application of timeless principles supported by the bedrock of personal character. 10. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster Hailed by many as the best modern book on Christian spirituality, Celebration of Discipline explores the classic Disciplines, or central spiritual practices, of the Christian faith. Along the way, Foster shows that it is only by and through these practices that the true path to spiritual growth can be found. So these are my ten picks for personal reading in the summer. Tomorrow, I will list the other notable books that I will indulge with reading over the summer. Tune in again for more studious examples of extreme buffoonery.


Yu-Ling posted at 4/21/2003 10:52:00 PM

Saturday, April 19, 2003

What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.

- T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets

Finally, another school term has finished. I think I have grown a lot in the last few months and I hope to carry on this soul searching mentality into the summer. To keep this short, I'll list some misc thoughts and prayer items: - God has done wonderful things in my brothers this term. It's so awesome to see the changed lives of so many people - I was troubled during the first (new) CCF committee meeting. After a 3 hr meeting, I feel completely at peace with Him. - Many plans for the summer: 10 book challenge, visitation/encouragement/kicking in the butt as required - praying for guidance/wisdom in choosing a direction for the devotional aspect of CCF - praying for a desire to seek God first - as a priority in my life - praying for God's Will to be done through Campus Challenge and campus ministry in general Tune in again for fun fun fun in the sun.


Yu-Ling posted at 4/19/2003 12:26:00 AM

Saturday, April 12, 2003

He that studies only men, will get the body of knowledge without the soul; and he that studies only books, the soul without the body. He that to what he sees, adds observation, and to what he reads, reflection, is in the right road to knowledge, provided that in scrutinizing the hearts of others, he neglects not his own.

- Caleb Colton

I’m in the middle of drudging through the last week of studying. I have two more exams on Thursday and the winter term is officially over for me. I’ve been thinking a lot about my character and how I react to the idea of studying. I know that I am by no means a model student who practices academic integrity (a great struggle of mine); yet, I feel that I am quite studious in other things. I can usually breeze through books (that I find interesting) and perhaps even retain a fair amount of information. I think I’m beginning to take after my dad since I’m amassing a library of christian books in my room. So am I dealing with selective discipline of study, or can I really find a way to combine two aspects of my studying life? I’m browsing through Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster… again. I first started the book in the fall yet I couldn’t get past the second chapter. Someone once told me that this is a book that you have to read slowly. You have to chew on the words and put it into practice. I think I stopped reading because I was scared that “putting the book into practice” was too hard for me. Indeed, the disciplines suggested by the author still remains quite difficult to practice in my life, but I am willing to be beaten down in order for my spiritual life to grow. One of the inward disciplines is that of study. The apostle Paul tells us that we are transformed through the renewal of the mind (Romans 12:2). The mind is renewed by applying it to those things that will transform it. I think about my attitude towards studying for academic purposes and I put to shame. I want to see my studying as a way to honor God… as a way to worship Him because He has given me this means of God’s grace for the changing of my inner spirit. So if you see me at DC library, and I begin to complain about the nonsense of studying for finals… please, kick me in the butt and remind me about Romans 12:2, that I may be transformed by the renewal of my mind. Tune in again for CCF hockey hijinks at South Campus parking lot.


Yu-Ling posted at 4/12/2003 06:40:00 PM

Thursday, April 03, 2003

Oh a very wise choice. The library is a wonderful place with books to read and you can listen to records like, "The air is alive with the Sound of Music".

- Grover, Sesame Street

10 minutes in the library and I'm wondering what happened to the rest of the hardcore people. There is literally nobody here. Shrug... welcome to finals. 4ever in DC =)


Yu-Ling posted at 4/03/2003 08:15:00 AM

Wednesday, April 02, 2003

Abandonment… recklessness… surrender. An unrelenting focus on a pure and holy God. This is Oswald Chambers’ constant and unsettling challenge to me.

- Bryan Duncan

I can’t believe I never discovered My utmost for His highest earlier in my life. I have been totally encouraged and challenged by the devotions. It put the bar (for christian living) so high, yet it truly pushes me to pursue that goal. One thing that God has spoken to me through the devotions is of my un-judged sin. During a time in my men’s cell group, we would go through a list of questions in order to help facilitate our sharing. One of the questions is whether you have committed any un-judged sin. Our group has interpreted this question as whether we are doing anything that may be a sin, yet are still uncertain. I shared with my bros that I have always had this sense of discernment. I’m not sure if it is real spiritual discernment, yet more often then not, I find my first reaction to a person is to question their “motivation”. Perhaps this gut instinct comprises of several things. Maybe I am judging (condemning) the person. Or am I motivated by a need to correct others because their impure intentions mirror my own? Can this possibly be the gift of discernment? I have been trying to come up with my primary motivation for this type of attitude. Perhaps it is an issue of raison d’être for me to truly drive out even minor sins (even one as convoluted as this). In any case, I want to share this devotion from My Utmost. It’s taken from March 31. Not only does it clarify the difficulties that I’m facing about spiritual discernment, rather it takes it a step further. Instead of just remaining stuck in my philosophical questioning of motivation, Chambers has challenged me to use discernment as a means to become an intercessor. If we are not heedful and pay no attention to the way the Spirit of God works in us, we will become spiritual hypocrites. We see where other people are failing, and then we take our discernment and turn it into comments of ridicule and criticism, instead of turning it into intercession on their behalf. God reveals this truth about others to us not through the sharpness of our minds but through the direct penetration of His Spirit. If we are not attentive, we will be completely unaware of the source of the discernment God has given us, becoming critical of others and forgetting that God says, ". . . he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death." Be careful that you don’t become a hypocrite by spending all your time trying to get others right with God before you worship Him yourself. One of the most subtle and illusive burdens God ever places on us as saints is this burden of discernment concerning others. He gives us discernment so that we may accept the responsibility for those souls before Him and form the mind of Christ about them (see Philippians 2:5 ). We should intercede in accordance with what God says He will give us, namely, "life for those who commit sin not leading to death." It is not that we are able to bring God into contact with our minds, but that we awaken ourselves to the point where God is able to convey His mind to us regarding the people for whom we intercede. Can Jesus Christ see the agony of His soul in us? He can’t unless we are so closely identified with Him that we have His view concerning the people for whom we pray. May we learn to intercede so wholeheartedly that Jesus Christ will be completely and overwhelmingly satisfied with us as intercessors. I feel like I’m being pummeled by Chamber’s clear articulation of the scripture. This is good. I think I’m beginning to understand what it truly takes to spur myself towards Christ… and what it means to spur my bros/sis as well. Can I kick some butt (if that’s what it takes) at the cost of me losing my “good guy” reputation. Can I really decrease in people’s eyes in order to make Him increase before them. Yet the hardest question: can I intercede so wholeheartedly that Jesus Christ will be completely and overwhelmingly satisfied with me as an intercessor? If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death 1 John 5:16 Tune in again for the raid back to DC library.


Yu-Ling posted at 4/02/2003 11:20:00 PM

Tuesday, April 01, 2003

Whichever path you choose, go to the front edge, the curl of the wave, the wild frontier, and throw your life and efforts there. That's where we need you!

- Neo, A New Kind of Christian

I broke a few promises as I begin this blog. I had made a commitment to finish reading the books that I already started before actually beginning to read anything new. Sorry guys, guess I messed up. I know there are still many wonderful books that I should finish reading (the Case for faith, what’s so amazing about grace, celebration of discipline… aiya), yet I wanted to write down a few things about the newest book that I did finish reading A New Kind of Christian. The following is the excerpt taken from the back of the book: A New Kind of Christians’s conversation between a pastor and his daughter’s high school science teacher reveals that wisdom for life’s most pressing spiritual questions can come from the most unlikely sources. This stirring fable captures a new spirit of Christianity – where personal, daily interaction with God is more important than institutional church structures, where faith is more about a way of life than system of belief, where being authentically good is more important than being doctrinally “right,” and where one’s direction is more important than one’s present location. I know I might get rebuked for many of the following ideas, but I have been struggling with this general sense of uneasiness that the book has been able to articulate. I look at CCF, my home church in TO, even the general body of believers that I have contact with… and I find something greatly amiss. I find people measuring success by the number of conversions that have happened during the term. I feel that there is a lack of uniqueness that separates the Christianity that we preach from the beliefs that others preach. There is an exceedingly amount of importance on systems of theology, bible study, and evangelism. I wonder if Christianity is generally staying in a passive mode while allowing the rest of the world to walk on towards a new era of thought and ideals? Man, these seem like tough (perhaps unwarranted) accusations against my brothers and sisters, as well as myself. Alrite, I need to collect my thoughts… and spend some time in hardcore prayer. I pray that these ideas are from Him and not from myself.


Yu-Ling posted at 4/01/2003 01:37:00 AM