“The Divine Conspiracy” – Book review

Although this book by Dallas Willard is over 10 years old, that’s irrelevant. The spiritual problems it addresses are timeless. We used it as a background book in our ladies’ class at church this summer. After my second reading through the book, I continue to find it even more engrossing. 

Willard’s message is:
* Live the kingdom life now.
* Be a true disciple.
* Actively pursue a relationship with the real person Jesus Christ, not with some shadowy ghost-figure that only exists in the pages of a book.

I was constantly challenged in every chapter to go deeper with God, to seek him in ways that are relevant to my everyday life.

The Gospel isn’t meant to simply inform us; it’s meant to transform us. That transformation touches every part of who we are as we pattern our lives after the life of Jesus.

Much of the book is rooted in Jesus’ teachings given in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. But Willard presents the truths here in a way I had not heard before. He has a way of drilling into the heart of Jesus’ words to show a tighter connectedness between the outward actions Jesus spoke of and our inward beliefs. If we don’t dive deeply enough into the “why,” we miss out on the “what.”

Bottom line, Willard encourages Christians to love God and love others because that’s what Kingdom life is all about. God doesn’t call us to obedience simply to keep us out of sin (although he definitely desires that); he calls us to obedience so we can be changed into the image of his Son.

I have a hunch I’m still not finished with this book. It’s meaty. It can be difficult in places. But it’s worthy to return to again and again.

If you also are striving to grow in maturity as a disciple of Christ, I recommend this book to you. You’ll be challenged in all the right places.

* * * * *

Chapter Titles
Chapter 1: Entering the Eternal Kind of Life Now
Chapter 2: Gospels of Sin Management
Chapter 3: What Jesus Knew: Our God-Bathed World
Chapter 4: Who is Really Well Off? — The Beatitudes
Chapter 5: The Rightness of the Kingdom Heart: Beyond the Goodness of Scribes and Pharisees
Chapter 6: Investing in the Heavens: Escaping the Deceptions of Reputation and Wealth
Chapter 7: The Community of Prayerful Love
Chapter 8: On Being a Disciple, or Student, of Jesus
Chapter 9: A Curriculum for Christlikeness *
Chapter 10: The Restoration of All Things

* Read an excerpt here from chapter 9, “A Curriculum for Christlikeness”

Agree with Him. He’s always right.

Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10

Who wants to pray THAT?

We struggle with this one. We think, “HIS will is bound to be hard. Painful. The opposite of what *I* want.”

But do we honestly think God is so sadistic? That as soon as we ask for his will, he’ll rain down suffering on us?

Not so. When we ask for his will to be done, we’re asking for blessings.

Because his ways are perfect, they will bring us more satisfaction in the long run than our own contrived plans of how to make ourselves happy. Our greatest delight comes through obedience to him.

He really does know us better than we know ourselves, and he knows what will bring us lasting joy. Even if sometimes we have to go through a little pain first to get there. He promises to make it all worthwhile.

So let’s just agree with him. He’s always right. Now and later. And  agreeing with him up front will improve our relationship with him. Now and later.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Philippians 3:8

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9

Why spiritual disciplines?

I’ve been lightly skimming over Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster this week. It’s one of my very favorite books of all time. It introduced me to the whole concept of spiritual disciplines several years ago.

I’ve since read more books about spiritual disciplines in my efforts to practice them. But this book remains the standard. I return to it again and again.

A few excerpts from Chapter 1, “The Spiritual Disciplines: Door to Liberation”

Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.

* * * * *

God intends the Disciplines of the spiritual life to be for ordinary human beings: people who have jobs, who care for children, who wash dishes and mow lawns. In fact, the Disciplines are best exercised in the midst of our relationships with our husband or wife, our brothers and sisters, our friends and neighbors.

* * * * *

Joy is the keynote of all the Disciplines. The purpose of the Disciplines is liberation from the stifling slavery to self-interest and fear.

* * * * *

In one important sense, the Spiritual Disciplines are not hard. We need not be well advanced in matters of theology to practice the Disciplines…The primary requirement is a longing after God (Psalm 42:1-2).

* * * * * *

The Disciplines are God’s way…of putting us where he can work within us and transform us. By themselves the Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us to the place where something can be done. …[They] are the means by which we place ourselves where he can bless us.

* * * * *

Lord, let me replace any superficial drives with training towards spiritual growth. In this time, with these people, in these circumstances. May I keep finding more joy in intimacy with you as you free me from myself. I long for you, Father, and I want to be transformed more into your image as I rest in your presence.

What’d you say about my Daddy?

 

Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Matthew 6:9

Does it bother you when people talk ugly about YOUR relatives?

You can say what you want. But no one else can.

You’re protective of your family name. It represents relationships that go deep and through time. Not perfect ones, but yours nonetheless. They belong to you. And you don’t want them slandered.

What about your extended spiritual family? The one you’ll live with for all eternity? Are you protective of that family name, too?

When somebody talks bad about your heavenly Daddy, do you shudder? Does that same protective feeling come out—“Hey, that’s my Father you’re talking about! Don’t talk bad about my Daddy.”

When Jesus said, “Hallowed be your name,” he meant it. God’s name is holy. It’s set apart. Sanctified.

His name is to be respected because it represents who he is. It goes deep.

When you have a fight with your husband, you’re disparaging the family name. When you yell at your child, you’re disrespecting the family dignity. When you gossip about your friend, you’re belittling the family reputation.

Don’t do it. Show respect. Directly and indirectly. Daddy’s listening. So is the world. God won’t strike you with lightning if you’re ugly about him. He’ll still love you, just the same.

But it hurts your relationship. And you.

Up your family loyalty. Respect your Father. Care more about the family reputation than your own.

Give Daddy his due.

Claim the relationship

Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Matthew 6:9

Tonight in Bible class we talked about names (among other things). We laughed that when we met our future mother-in-law, we didn’t know what to call her. So we usually didn’t call her anything for awhile.

Names define relationship. When we’re uncertain about a relationship, we’re also sometimes uncertain about naming it.

But when Jesus was teaching his disciples how to pray, he started off strong. No mealy-mouth doubt about how to initiate a conversation with God:

“Our Father”

He was saying to claim the relationship! Call God what he is to you: your Father.

And that means I’m his daughter. There is no sweeter relation than being the child of the King. I’m certain about that.

How can you be a really good person?

You don’t get many door-to-door salesmen at the beach (or should I say “umbrella-to-umbrella” salesmen?). But you get some.

Usually they’re hawkers trying to sell their photography services. But on our last trip, a young man and woman came by to ask questions. They wanted us to think about dying. “How certain are you you’d go to heaven?”

We all four answered 100%. Not because we think we’re so good. That would be laughable.  We’d probably already had a “disagreement” or two that very hour.

Granted, we WANT to be good. I assume that most people want to be good. They think about it. They make efforts at it. They may even pray about it.

But none of that works.

At least not for very long. Our own efforts at trying to be good often backfire. Something in our own plans will go always go awry. Maybe a spouse misinterprets our “kind” deed and we end up in a fight instead, or a child keeps annoying us so much that we explode despite our best intentions. Something.

So how CAN we ever be good?

It’s counterintuitive. Instead of focusing on trying, we focus elsewhere. Off ourselves. Onto Someone else.

Hanging out with the Savior. Letting him rub off on us. His presence does mysterious things to us, and the more profoundly we let him love us, the more profoundly we’ll love not only him, but also others.

That doesn’t mean we quit trying to be good, but it does mean our attention is no longer self-centered. Our goal becomes connecting with the ultimate source of goodness. Then we discover we’ve been empowered and freed up to live well, love well, and do good things, and not just in a “follow the rules” way.

Instead of living out of guilt, we’ll live out of gratitude. He’ll get in our blood, as we get covered with his. As we do life together with Jesus, intentionally and aware, we can rest on his strength, in the invisible kingdom, instead of grunting through this world by our own self-discipline (or lack thereof).

It’s a different way to live. A happier, more fulfilled way. A more protected and effective way.

It’s how we’re designed to live.

Back on the beach, the young man and woman said many people answer with a 50-70% surety that they’re good enough to get into heaven. Too bad. I’m 100% sure that NONE of us are “good enough.” But equally sure that Christ is. His goodness is what gets us in. And keeps us there.

So how can we be a really good person? We can’t.

But we can believe in the One who is. And he says that’s good enough.

Before the couple left us to go talk with others, they shared scriptures and told us their faith stories. It was sweet and refreshing, and, well, good. That happens in the kingdom.

And they never offered to take our picture. That, too, was sweet and refreshing, and, well, good. :-)

Book review: “Falling in Love with Jesus”

There are a host of Christians who are busy with church activity, or just plain busy. They claim to love Jesus, but their time with Him, their aloneness with Him, their time to nurture their relationship with Him, has all but disappeared.

If you’re not used to thinking about Jesus in a personal way, you might be uncomfortable with this book.

It uses the language of intimacy to draw you into a deeper relationship with him. However, if you thirst to immerse yourself more in his love in this way, this book can guide you. [Disclaimer: It won’t fit everyone’s style; preview it before you spend money on it to see it if would speak to you or not.]

My sister approved it (she penned in her 5-star approval on the flyleaf, even after a re-read) and loaned it to me. I’m glad she did.

Falling in Love with Jesus: Abandoning Yourself to the Greatest Romance of Your Life is co-written from two perspectives: a married woman (writer Dee Brestin) and a single woman (singer-songwriter Kathy Troccoli). They share their individual successes and disappointments in how they love Jesus and are loved by him. 

They discuss a relationship with Jesus in three stages:
1. First Love: the euphoric courtship and honeymoon time
2. Wilderness Love: the painful time of questioning and doubts
3. Invincible Love: the deep abiding confidence that all is well

In each stage, they use stories from scripture and from their lives to walk us along the journey of our own romance with Jesus.

Some excerpts:
* “Happy” is not the goal. The goal is loving Jesus. Then, and only then, do you experience an inextinguishable joy.

* Both Martha and the disciples made the mistake of valuing good deeds over their love relationship with Jesus. It isn’t that Jesus doesn’t value good deeds. He knows that good deeds will naturally flow out of communion with Him. But communion will not necessarily flow out of good deeds.

* His main purpose for us is not to make us wealthy nor to make us healthy, though it pleases Him to do so, but to rescue us from sin. Why? Because he loves us.

* If I never get married,...when I stand before Jesus, will I have missed something? Will I have missed the greatest love? ... “My Bible says that the greatest love that a man could have is to lay down his life for his friends....You are loved.”

He’s R-E-A-L

A mere two paragraphs into the book, and you hit this:

Very few people today find Jesus interesting as a person or of vital relevance to the course of their actual lives.

He is not generally regarded as a real-life personality who deals with real-life issues but is thought to be concerned with some feathery realm other than the one we must deal with, and must deal with now.

And frankly, he is not taken to be a person of much ability.

But, oh how wrong that is.

And Dallas Willard sets out to prove exactly what a misconception that is in the same book, The Divine Conspiracy.

It makes me ask questions like these:

• How do I see Jesus?
• Where does he fit in my daily life?
• Is he a person I have a passion for, or do I just want his gifts?
• Exactly how REAL is he to me?

R - Relevant
He’s so real that he has a connection to everything that I do. My work, my play, my relationships—he touches them all and gives them meaning. Because of him, whatever I do has purpose—it becomes an act of worship to reflect his image and make him shine.

Do I succeed in fulfilling my purpose? Mostly not. But that doesn’t mean my desire to do so is irrelevant. It just means I want to depend on and love him even more.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

...To my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.
Isaiah 43:20,21

E – Effective
He’s so real that he helps me be a better mother, a better wife, a better friend. Because his love is real, my love can be more real. He is the example of a more excellent way to live, and he empowers me to carry it out—in his strength, not my own. 

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.
Colossians 1:11

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8

A – Active
He’s so real that I continue to hear him even now through his words and his spirit. He has power; he has presence; he participates in my world. Because he lives, I live. His Spirit even makes his home in me.

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

...and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
John 14:23

L – Lavish
He’s so real that He keeps blessing me in ways I don’t deserve. The gifts he gives, the way he loves, and his reasons why—all are incredibly lavish. He doesn’t love just a little; he loves extravagantly. Enough to live for me. Enough to die for me.

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:32

...I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 10:10

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11

* * * * *

That’s real to me. He’s real to me. What more could he do to prove it?

“All Because of Jesus”

giver of every breath I breathe
author of all eternity
giver of every perfect thing
to you be the glory

maker of heaven and of earth
no one can comprehend your worth
king over all the universe
to you be the glory

i'm alive because i'm alive in You

it's all because of Jesus I'm alive
it's all because the blood of Jesus Christ
that covers me and raised this dead man's life
it's all because of Jesus I'm alive

every sunrise sings Your praise
the universe cries out your praise
i'm singing freedom all my days
now that I'm alive

 

Good advice or Good news?

You want good advice or good news?

John Piper relays this illustration, preached by Doug Wilson, on the difference between good advice and good news.

Good advice is a teacher saying to her class, “Study hard. Memorize your paradigms. Do your homework and get it in every night. And then I think you’ll do fine on the final exam and the passing of this course.”

All that is really good advice.

Then the exam comes and this teacher is walking down the aisle and she sees this young fellow sitting over a blank piece of paper, not able to write anything on the final exam.

She stops and says more good advice. “Try to remember everything you studied. Give yourself attention  here and just relax.”

That’s all very good advice.

But if she says, “Why don’t you scoot over and I’ll take the test for you.”

 That’s good news.

Good advice is important. We want it. Need it. The Bible is full of it.

But we don’t want to be like the Jews in Jesus’ day who searched the scriptures looking for good advice—on eternal life—but when Eternal Life Himself (i.e. Good News) showed up, they refused to come to him (John 5:39-40).

Don’t miss the Good News by focusing only on the good advice.

When Christ says, “Scoot over and I’ll take the test for you,” let him. He’ll pass it with flying colors. And you’ll get the A+.

* * * * *

The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.
Proverbs 15:30

And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Luke 2:10

Is he in your house?

Zacchaeus really wanted to be in the presence of Jesus (Luke 19). To see who Jesus was.

He succeeded by climbing high in the sycamore treetops. Jesus spotted him, called him by name, and said, “I’m coming over.”

Zacchaeus joyfully welcomed him in. And his life was never the same. Salvation had come to his house.

Us? Same story.

We want to see who this Jesus man is. We want to be noticed by One who counts. And he does notice us, because he’s been looking for us long before we ever thought of looking for him. 

But he doesn’t want us to stay in the tree, gawking at him from a distance. He  wants us down so he can come over, to where we live, where we work, where we hang out. Our house. Our life.

So we can know him. In an eternal life kind of way (John 17:3).

Once we invite him in, we’ll never be the same... 

* * * * *

Our class assignment this week is to invite Jesus  into our house, room by room, in corners where we usually shut him out. Deeper into our lives than we’ve invited him before.

We choose one room a day from the paper house, then go into the corresponding room in our real house. To let him talk to us through scriptures. To talk back to him through prayer. Then we put a “Jesus” sticker on the paper room to remind us that we’ve welcomed him in.

Can you let Jesus see in your closets? Under the bed? Inside the pantry? Gaze at your computer?

Surrender every part of your life to him. Don’t let excuses and fear and apathy hinder you. Unlock some doors this week.

Pray for us. Join us. Invite him into your house, too.

Read more about our
Flat Jesus class

Where has Flat Jesus been?

Flat Jesus has been showing up many places this week.

He’s been to the ballpark, the doctor’s office, to work, the blood mobile, golfing, out of town trips, picking blueberries, out to eat LOTS of times—including Starbucks, and he’s even been on Facebook. He definitely gets around!

To every person. To every place. In every time. Quite amazing, huh? Where will he show up next? 

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence? 
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning and
dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
Psalm 139:7-10

“Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually!”
1 Chronicles 16:11

Awaken your passion for Jesus—because the real Jesus is NOT flat

A few months ago:

I’m sitting in a Bible class at church. A good one, mind you.

We open our Bibles. We read about Jesus. We talk about Jesus, verse by verse. We close our Bibles. We get in our cars. We go home.

 So why did it feel so FLAT to me?

Why did it seem like Jesus stayed right there, flat in the book, instead of popping out and engaging us and changing us and challenging us?  

I’ve always loved pop-up books. My favorite books to read to my kids were the pop-ups. Because every time I was about to turn a page, their anticipation grew. I could read the excitement in their eyes when I flipped to a new scene that could almost reach out and grab us.

I understand we can’t always experience the feel of excitement when we read the Bible (although often we can). We don’t want our emotions to drive our faith. We believe what we know to be true, not what we feel to be true (2 Timothy 1:12,13; John 8:31,32). Truth isn’t swayed by emotions.

But...often God’s stories ARE stirring. They draw out amazement from us. When we read about Jesus holding a dead girl’s hand and saying, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” and she does!—that’s not a boring and routine story (Mark 5:21-43). It’s incredible, and it should be read and imagined as such.

When we read of Jesus’ great compassion on the crowds, healing one sick person after another (Matthew 14:14), it should move us toward this man of great love.

Then when we reach the ultimate passion story of Jesus sweating blood (Luke 22:44) and facing separation from his father (Matthew 27:46) because of our nasty sins, well, this stuff is popping off the page and demands a response from every reader.

It’s intense and powerful and passionate.

And it moves me. HE moves me.

The person and truth of Jesus Christ move me. In a direction I’m designed to go. My desire to know him better is fueled by his passion for me. So my greatest satisfaction comes from reveling in the mutual love we have for each other.     

It calls for intentional celebration. God tells me so in his Word (Philippians 4:4).

My soul answers in response—“I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18). “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

“Rejoice in the LORD”...“there is fullness of joy”...and “pleasures forevermore”...can we get any further away from flat than that?

More scriptures here:
“Awaken your passion for the Lord”

Friday’s “Flat Jesus” Fave Five

Our ladies’ church class has an assignment with Flat Jesus this week. We’re taking him with us everywhere we go for 7 days, to remind us that the REAL Jesus is really with us all the time, and to see what effect the increased awareness of his presence has on us.

So my “Friday’s fave five” are reporting in on our adventures. Check out Susanne’s for more favorite fives from others. God is at work everywhere.

1. Jesus never changes
My extended family came to my house for Sunday lunch, and I had an uncut stack of Flat Jesus’  sitting on the coffee table. As a result, my sister and I realized that we’re both teaching Wednesday classes this summer at different churches on almost the EXACT same theme! (We get excited over little things.) 

So she took a Flat Jesus home with her to use in her own class. But then found a style she liked better.

I’m thankful that Jesus NEVER changes in reality—he’s the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8), yet he still meets each of our needs in just the right way regardless of how our times and cultures change.

2. Jesus in our work
I wanted a picture of Flat Jesus with my daughters’ ducks. Why? Because I often think about how her care of those ducks is great training for child-raising one day.

And I want Jesus to be at the very heart of that job for her. I also want Jesus to remain the center of my own work of raising my daughter to love him.

3. Jesus in many of us—at the same time 
Tuesday night I caught up with a group of friends from the past. As we chatted, I multi-tasked and also cut out 25 copies of Flat Jesus.

Isn’t it cool that God’s Spirit can live in ALL believers at the same time? He connects us at deep levels. Only one God, only one Jesus, but many children in his bloodline.

4. Jesus one-on-one
Yesterday my Flat Jesus had lunch with Selwyn’s Flat Jesus. :-) While I love being with groups of friends, I also need one-on-one time to share the nitty-gritty. I need someone who knows my “stuff” and can keep me accountable.

Of course, no one knows my stuff more than Jesus does. I’m glad he gets one-on-one with me, knows all about me, and loves me anyway.

5. Jesus in marriage
Last night we celebrated my brother’s 30th wedding anniversary. As in every marriage, he and my s-i-l have had some rough patches, but by the grace of God, they are living testimony that the Lord is the perfect glue that holds our relationships together.

I love my brother; I love my sister-in-law just as if she were a blood sister; and I love the Lord for giving them a testimony of 30 years of marriage.

And for giving me my first precious nephew and niece as fruit of their marriage, 26 and 24 years ago.

If I follow the rules…

Christianity  ≠  Following rules

Watch Matt Chandler explain it below.

If we’ve worked hard at following the rules, then something bad happens to us anyway, we get mad—because we were good! And is this how God repays us? As if we’ve put God into our debt.

Good performances don’t carry guarantees. Our only guarantee comes from trusting the Lord (Eph 2:8-9). And it’s free. 

Not rules. It’s relationship. Know Jesus.

 

More about having a relationship with Jesus

Flat Jesus

I didn’t get kicked out of church tonight. That’s good.

I’m in a Wednesday night class with several ladies this summer to increase our hunger and thirst for Jesus. Tonight we focused on understanding that Jesus is REAL and that he is always with us.

So to help us become more aware of his presence in our day-to-day lives, I gave everyone a Flat Jesus (think Flat Stanley). We’re going to carry him around with us for 7 days as a tangible reminder that the REAL Jesus is with us everywhere we go.

Will an increased awareness of his presence change anything? We’ll find out. Print out your own Flat Jesus and try it with us.

I’ll be posting more about our experiments (and our pictures) as the summer goes on, including some things I learned tonight. Just watch for the Flat Jesus icon.