i came across this (short) book on john piper’s website the other day. they describe it as an:

“evangelistic book that addresses several key questions about God and us that everyone needs answers to. Use it to share with unbelievers that Jesus, the greatest being in the universe, is not just calling them to come, but calling them to come for their joy!”

the books are only $1.00 a piece (less if you buy 10 or more), and the entire book is available to read online here if you want to read it before you buy it. i found it to be a very refreshing presentation of the gospel and an encouragement to seek joy in my relationship with God!

i’ve ordered a pack of them, so if you would like to have one let me know!

i’ve only read the first chapter, but what a chapter it was. i do need to mention that i think few people write as well as donald miller. the book’s subtitle is “reflections on growing up without a father”, and since i grew up with a father, i never really thought about reading this one. two of my favorite books are written by don, so i decided to read the first chapter to get a feel for what the book was about. i was hooked when i read the dedication.

“dedicated to men who are mentoring younger men”

oddly enough before i read this i never really thought that i am surrounded by kids (and adults) who grew up without fathers, and it might be important to read a bit about that experience.

the first chapter is a description of various “replacement dad’s” don had since he was a kid. from Bill Cosby to his neighbor’s son, he describes the successes and failures each man had. he then spends the last half of the chapter vividly describing his interactions with his youth pastor – David Gentiles.

like i said, i only read the first chapter, so i’ll keep you up to date on the rest of the book. what i read was a huge encouragement to continue pursuing young people, especially guys, and especially guys without fathers.

in 2 Samuel, we see God’s grace lavished upon David, Bathsheba and Solomon. it is so easy to see and recognize the grace of God, but it is difficult to extend that same grace to others.even in our lives, we can accept and recognize God’s grace, but we find it hard to show it to people around us. are we willing to live by the grace that saved us?feel free to listen here!

Be discontent. We don’t hear that often. Usually we feel guilty for not being content with what we have – our car, job, house, friends, partners – but in Matthew 5:6, Jesus tells us that we are “Blessed” when we are not content with our current state of righteousness.

To “Hunger and Thirst” literally means to have an inconsolable longing for something. It means to desire something so much that the desire itself cannot be quenched (in this life). C.S. Lewis says:

“I find in myself desires which nothing in this earth can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world”

We should have such a longing and desire to be inwardly pure that it drives us absolutely crazy to know that in this life, and in these bodies we cannot.

feel free to listen here!