Bits & Pieces (4/3/12)

Jesus Christ and Him Crucified – “There’s a lot of emphasis on sharing your stories with others. The reasoning is that people won’t dismiss a personal testimony as easily. I think there is some value in that, because it helps people see that they’re not alone. And how else can you explain “the hope that you have” without sharing your story? But if we let ourselves get too wrapped in our story, it can become more about us and less about God. To a person who is wrestling with some big issues, we can inadvertently make them feel worse.”

Popularity vs. Pleasing God – “If we’re trying to please people through our sharing of the Gospel, then we’re going to end up revising God’s message and taking out the parts about sin and hell. What we’ll be left with is not the Gospel.”

Repentance Should Grow from Relationship – “When coming to God’s Word, it is so important for me to remember that it is the revelation of God Himself to me that is the priority. The avoidance of and repentance from sin is the result of seeking God with all my heart.”

Not A Waste of Time – A wonderful reminder from Edith Schaeffer about hospitality, service and treating others as if we were doing so unto Jesus.

Our National Pastime – Baseball is often maligned and I understand the reasons why, but it will always have a special place in my heart. This post reminds us some of the reasons that baseball is treasured. For example – “Baseball is unique in the pantheon of professional American sports. It’s the only one where time doesn’t end your game. It’s the only one where offense and defense are totally compartmentalized. And it’s the only sport that actually works on radio.”