"As they passed the rows of houses they saw through the open doors that men were sweeping and dusting and washing dishes, while the women sat around in groups, gossiping and laughing.
"What has happened?" the Scarecrow asked a sad-looking man with a bushy beard, who wore an apron and was wheeling a baby-carriage along the sidewalk.
"Why, we've had a revolution, your Majesty -- as you ought to know very well," replied the man; "and since you went away the women have been running things to suit themselves. I'm glad you have decided to come back and restore order, for doing housework and minding the children is wearing out the strength of every man in the Emerald City."
"Hm!" said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully. "If it is such hard work as you say, how did the women manage it so easily?"
"I really do not know," replied the man, with a deep sigh. "Perhaps the women are made of cast-iron.""
- L. Frank Baum, "The Land of Oz"
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Last night, I was able to make it to College Station to hear John Piper speak at the local University. Although I don't find it particularly enjoyable venturing into such a place, hearing John Piper speak on the "Radical Effects of the Resurrection" was more than enough to make the visit not just bearable, but a joy.
Not only is Piper an incredible author, he also communicates very well. He came under the guise of a book he recently wrote named, "Don't Waste Your Life," which you can download and read in PDF form for free here. Desiring God Ministries also brought 3500 of the books to campus and had them for free at the event along with some other books.
I highly recommend that you take a break from chess, work, lunch or life to listen to his words from last night. They will certainly challenge you. If you can find a spare hour to "get away," you can listen to him at this site. Piper was very vulnerable, engaging and, most importantly, Biblical. If I ever communicate as well as God has enabled him, it would truly be a miracle gift from God.
He spoke on 1 Corinthians 15:12-19.
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.The main idea of his message was that if your life, and all that it entails, do not point to the resurrection of Christ, you are not living an obedient life.
Do you live life that would be pitiable were it not for the resurrection?
Trackbacks:
Trackback URL: http://thinklings.org/bloo.trackback.php/3762.
1. Houston Northwest GAP Singles
- 04/05/2007 7:50 am CDT
This week John Piper was at Texas A&M and he delivered this message. It's amazing, and I highly recommend you take an hour and listen to it. The two key passages he dwells on are below:
Comments on "How John Piper Rocked My World":
2. Bird
- 04/04/2007 9:24 pm CDT
Piper is a dynamic speaker and a gifted teacher. He's awesome. Blo's wife, Dani, gave me "What Jesus Demands from the World" for Christmas. It's on my reading queue.
"Do you live life that would be pitiable were it not for the resurrection?"
No.
I just listened to the message. Holy cow, was that good, and convicting.