The First to Commit Suicide

Hello my Impact brothers and sisters,

So, I was talking to my wife last night about why Adam was the first to commit suicide and came up with this analogy which I think might be helpful. This is coming from the story of the Great Fall (Genesis 3).

Suicide by Food Poisoning

God told Adam (and Eve) not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This fruit, in my words, is poisonous. It is the poison within the fruit - i.e. knowledge of evil - that contaminates the entire fruit and makes the entire fruit poisonous. No matter how juicy and delicious the fruit is, because there is poison in it a person will die from eating the fruit. Adam was warned by God. It's like our best friend (God) telling us not to eat a certain food because if we eat it then we will die. Or, not to eat at a specific restaurant (i.e. a tree). And then, like Adam, we eat it and...we die. Not because the fruit itself is bad, but because of what is in the fruit is bad.

A stronger analogy to many of today's suicides can compare this fruit to a drug. Many of us grow up learning from parents, friends, and others that we should not take any drugs because of the many consequences which one leads to overdose and death. Unfortunately, many of us are enticed to such harmful drugs or even get addicted to prescription drugs. When life really has us feeling worthless, eventually we end up dying from overdose. In the story of Adam and Eve, this fruit was a very powerful drug that the human body could not handle and when eaten would instantly send the body into overdose and die.

I pray this analogy is helpful.

Again, Adam was first because their eyes (i.e. Adam and Eve's) were not open to their nakedness until after Adam ate of the fruit (verse 7). But we shouldn't allow ourselves to get caught up with who was exactly first. What matters more is that there was a husband and wife who allowed each other to fall into sin instead of helping each other keep their holy guard up (and not commit suicide).

I pray that the Lord helps us in helping each other including ourselves with keeping our guard up and not committing suicide. God created us because we have worth. Each of our lives is worth more than we know. Thanks be to God.

Online References

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/food-poisoning#1

Book Review - Blue Like Jazz

Book of the Month - "Blue Like Jazz" (by Donald Miller)

It's a well written autobiography and I truly enjoyed this book as a leisurely read. I can see why it's sponsored by Cru, the organization in which I heard of the book, because it's an evangelistic tool with some great ideas on evangelism. More importantly, it has great thoughts on a true life that wrestles with churches and Christianity. There's a big difference between churches' Christianity and the Christianity of Jesus Christ.

At first, I thought this book was about nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality. But after reading this book, I can't say I necessarily agree with this note because there is a lot of hints of Christian thoughts throughout this book. I guess most people's childhood in the Bible belt of the USA will automatically steer the thinking towards a Christian mindset (i.e. spirituality). But can't Christian spirituality also have various definitions?

Main Points

Similarly to my journey of understanding how to be like Jesus albeit very different paths taken, there are quite a few good points mentioned by this author, Don.

• Jazz - like all music that we didn't grow up with (and if it sounds really different from the music we like while growing up), we won't like it when we first hear it. However, we can't appreciate the music (considering the sounds are good) if we don't learn what it's about it. And we can't feel the music unless we see someone else dancing to it. That's how people truly feel music - they dance to it. You can't just sit and listen to a song when it's really speaking to your soul. You gotta dance! Plus, there's more than one type of Jazz and I love smooth jazz, baby.
• Journey - understanding Christian spirituality is a journey focused on seeking more and more understanding of Jesus Christ.
• Chapters - his chapters are categorize very well and he doubles one on the crucial topic of "Love". Well, actually triples on "Love", but you'll have to figure that out for yourself. ;)
• Teenagers - I love how this is a good read for teenagers. I would expect college students to be too busy reading text books, but many teenagers are interested in knowing how college guys and girls think.

Favorite Quotes

There were a lot of nice quotes by the author, but I'll limit to one per chapter (20 total).

1. My father left my home when I was young, so when I was introduced to the concept of God as Father I imagined Him as a stiff, oily man who wanted to move into our house and share a bed with my mother.
2. The greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time.
3. I couldn't give myself to Christianity because it was a religion for the intellectually naive.
4. I still had serious issues with Jesus, though, only because I associated Him with Christianity, and there was no way I would ever call myself a Christian.
5. She believed that all things that were true were rational. But that isn't the case. Love, for example, is a true emotion, but it is not rational.
6. Trying to love the right things without God's help...was impossible.
7. Who am I to think myself above God's charity?
8. Don't complain about the way God answers your prayers.
9. This is why he could be beaten one day, imprisoned the next, and released only to be beaten again and never ask God why.
10. If I walk away from Him, and please pray that I never do, I will walk away for social reasons, identity reasons, deep emotional reasons, the same reasons that any of us do anything.
11. Stop ten people on the street and ask them what they think of when they hear the word Christianity, and they will give you ten different answers.
12. First [thing I didn't like about churches]: I felt like people were trying to sell me Jesus.
13. ...marriage is worth the trade. You lose all your freedom, but you get this [incredible] friend.
14. When a person has no other persons he invents them because he was not designed to be alone, because it isn't good for a person to be alone.
15. Living in community made me realize one of my faults: I was addicted to myself.
16. There's not a lot of work in the Christian market if you won't write self-righteous, conservative propaganda.
17. A statement like this [of Mother Theresa] offends some Christians because they believe if aspects of their faith do not obey the facts of reality, they are not true.
18. The real issue in the Christian community was that it was conditional.
19. God's love will never change us if we don't accept it.
20. ...jazz music was invented by the first generation out of slavery...a language of the soul. I think Christian spirituality is like jazz music. I think loving Jesus is something you feel.

And then you dance to it!

Favorite Verse

No verses mentioned in this book. But, he does mention the Book of Matthew and in particular points out chapter 13 as a life changer.

What's Missing?

Well, if you're going to write an autobiography and compare it to jazz, then I would love some links to some good jazz music. :-)

Book Review - Reset (by Joseph W. Walker III)

This is actually the Book of the Month for September.

This is a good book if you are looking to start over with your life in addition to the Bible. If you're reading this on your own, then this is a great motivational book for churchgoers. However, I believe the best way to read through this book, similarly to "The Purpose Driven Life" (by Rick Warren), is in a small group of believers.

Personally, "Reset" sounds like a collection of sermons. For example,  reading through the contents page a reader will see chapter titles like "Reclaim and Rededicate" and "Reassess and Recalibrate". This is very helpful for people to remember like one would with a song which has been popularized in the Black Church. I also can tell that the author is non-white from the vernacular and diction. This is great for those, like me, who are looking to read more books from a non-traditional American author.

Main Points

If I had this book ten years ago when I was starting my life over again (for the third time), then here are the points that I would have instantly applied.

• Reflections - these questions at the end of each chapter are powerful and require deep, honest thoughts. I would write down my answers and, next to it, write future answers (to the same questions) that I would like to reflect.
• Rain and Revelation - this section is quite good; talks about getting breakthroughs instead of breakdowns.
• Recognize the Call - 'the call' defined as 'an urging of the Spirit.' This was very helpful in zooming into my focus because many distractions in this world will take you away from your main attraction in this world.
• Remake - in the section about 'Understanding...Lo Debar' the author talks about how someone has dropped us, abused us, lied to us, deceived us, and caused other damages that may have paralyzed us in some fashion. He reminds us those thoughts and feelings are painful and difficult to face, but need to be addressed if we are to progress towards God and forward with God. We can't reset family, friends, and others, but we can reset ourself. This message is something I could have used during middle school.
• I like his section on "Commitment and Promise". Basically, our commitment to God is what entitles us to His Promise and promises.
• I would actually debate with the author on his statement "This [tithing] shows us that it was pre-Mosaic covenant." Tithing implies a tenth for all things received. I don't see where Abraham and others pre-Mosaic covenant are actually continuously tithing. I see some sacrifices here and there, but nothing periodically.
• I like the section on "Sacrifice", too. Every true Christian understands the meaning and importance of sacrifice.
• I like how the author uses a lot of personal examples.

Favorite Quotes

• "There are also those men and women who think they are inside the will of God when they are not. These are the people who outwardly live the Christian life. They go to church. They tithe. They're on committees. But so many are guilty of working for God instead of with God." - Whoa, love it.
• "Only a few of us really have the capacity to be Hosea, to love like that. But all of us have been Gomer."
• "it takes pain to teach us the limits of behavior, people, or situations that can hurt us mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It is there to push us away from danger. That is the positive side of pain."
• "Give yourself time to heal before God's next move." - Amen!
• "This is a distinction between information about God and revelation about God." - Amen.
• "If you have a dream that is of God, he will always give you the space to reach for it."
• "you will never reach your destiny if you don't know your history."
• "You can tell when people don't know who they are. It's easy to see when they don't know their identity, their destiny. It's in their posture."
• "there is a distinct difference between praise and worship. Praise is simply a response to what God has done for us."
• God is a God of timing. He operates in kairos rather than chronos - his time, not ours."
• "There can be no purification without separation, and there can be no separation without some agitation. Sin has attached itself to you the way dirt and grime attach themselves to your clothes. To remove it, there has to be agitation. In real life, that can mean disruption."
• "There are certain ships in life we all ride in - relationships, friendships, partnerships, fellowships. And some of those ships are too small to get you where God is taking you."
• "If you're not healthy, you can't fulfill your purpose."

Favorite Verse

"Let us reason together," says Isaiah 1:18. Let us talk this through.

What's Missing?

Here are my thoughts on what is missing in this book and could possibly draw concerns.

1. The author must emphasize the importance of starting life over with true believers that care about the person's reset. Church is insufficient on such a personal matter. Small groups, too, are not enough. There must be a few trustworthy believers, preferably of the same gender, that will personally befriend and assist with the reset.
2. A person resetting their life but having strong abusive addictions must get professional, Christian counseling. I didn't see this mentioned along with a list of counseling centers, contacts and resources. Such helpful resources should have been provided in an appendix. I must highlight this miss because my assumption of the audience will include individuals who are heavily broken, discouraged and depressed.

Overall, I'm glad I read this book as it's always helpful to be reminded of the importance to reflect and see which in areas in my life need to be reset, removed, reclaimed or refined. ;-)

Book Review - Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

Fam,

I have always been interested not only in Christianity, but also in other religions especially those of my friends. One in particular is Islam. Islam seems to be the greatest opponent to Christianity and I never understood why. Having read the Bible, I didn't see any threats to Muslims. I also don't see any threats to Jews, those who actually know the Spirit of the Law in addition to the Law. I believe there's a huge misunderstanding for anyone who feels threatened by Christianity including certain so-called Christians who only believe in their additions to the biblical interpretations. So I believe that Christianity truly is a religion of love, one that spreads to everyone unconditionally.

But why aren't churches or Christians talking about other religions and understanding Christian Apologetics? At a particular church I was attending, God blessed us with a man visiting our church over a weekend who was getting his post-doctorates in defending the Gospel against Islamists. He emailed me and suggested plenty of references to further my understanding of the Islamic perspective on Christianity highlighting this book: "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus".

Another great book transforming mindsets, I love how Nabeel Qureshi, the author, is very open and honest with telling his autobiography as a former devout Muslim on such a vital topic (faith) where many lose their lives - literally. Now, more than ever, people especially young people in the West need more evidence in supporting any kind of belief. With so many lies, false stories, and rhetoric, Westerners are free to choose their faith and often do so based on their knowledge and personal experiences, but can easily be misled. In contrast to many other cultures, Westerners have access to all kinds of information due to the Internet and even public libraries. Westerners also have access to temples and mosques in addition to the heavily population of churches. But no so with non-Westerners, who are heavily persuaded and even compelled into certain beliefs.

Another reason I like this book is because the author gives some insight into the divisions within Islam. This is eye opening for many since the West is filled with churches promoting their denomination instead of focusing on the biblical essentials and dispelling myths of Christianity. The same can even be said of Islam.

Nabeel subtlety highlights the single, most important part of evangelism: friendship. Many are turned off by Christianity because Christians, in general, are not befriending people. Many Christians are absorbed in their "community" (i.e. church community) that they are forgetting Jesus second commandment: love thy neighbor. But like many other religions, many Christians are listening to what they have been taught which is any and everything coming through their pastor instead of first listening to God. And this puts many Christians in the same religious lifestyle as Nabeel's Islamic lifestyle.

My last point about why I love this book - is on the importance of any individual learning the faith in Jesus Christ with his/her own interpretations refined by self-studies and having open, challenging discussions with biblical scholars.

My favorite quotes and key takeaways

1. "love for his family and heritage was his motivation." (In reference to his father which is interestingly similar to the feelings of the Father.)
2. "Muslims believe that every single word of the Quran was dictated verbatim by Allah, through the Archangel Gabriel, to Muhammad."
3. "Muslims do not consider the Quran translatable. If it is rendered in any language other than Arabic, it is not Quran but rather an interpretation of the Quran. A book can be a true Quran only if written in Arabic."
4. "most Muslims I knew growing up could recite many chapters of the Quran from memory, but rarely could they explain the meaning or context of those verses." (This, interestingly, could be the case for all religions.)
5. "Light gets dimmer the farther it gets from its source."
6. There are 5 Pillars of Islam
7. There are 6 Articles of Faith
8. Shia make up 10-15% of Muslims, Sunni make up 80% and others make up the 5-10%.
9. A man is Muslim if he exclusively declares that Allah is God and Muhammad is Allah's messenger.
10. "there is much division in Islam."
11. "each denomination differs on what hadith they consider accurate."
12. "My mind was shaped to think critically, but that shape did not fit into our culture."
13. "I was no longer of traditional Pakistani culture, and I was no longer of American culture. I had a third culture, and no one met me there."
14. "They did not categorize religion with belief but with cultural identity."
15. "the best we can do before getting to know someone is to determine whether he is an immigrant or a second-generation Muslim. This one factor often makes a huge difference."
16. "The Quran is the only uncorrupted, perfect book in the world. The books of hadith are more like the Bible because they are the works of men."
17. "when authority is derived from reason, questions are welcome because critical examination sharpens the very basis of authority."
18. There are two types of basic belief of Islam: 1) Islam is the religion of peace; 2) Islam will dominate the world. A Muslim must choose one of these two types which will shape his/her entire life.
19. "Effective evangelism requires relationships. There are few exceptions."
20. "Polictical correctness is for acquintances, not friends."
21. "Conjecture is not enough. You need proof." (by David Woods)
22. "Feel free to be as skeptical as you want, but just don't be inconsistent. If you're going to be this skeptical about the Bible, I want you to be equally skeptical when we take a look at the Quran." (by David Woods)
23. "the Quran calls Jesus the 'Word of God'."

Verses

• John 1
• Daniel 7
• Psalm 110
• Mark 14:62
• Mark 8:34-35

Conclusion

This documented testimony is worth sharing with and recommended reading for every Christian and non-Christian. A Christian must be like Paul the Apostle in the Book of Romans by first understanding others and then explaining the Gospel and how it is the truth to life. There is no other God, but Jesus.

By using an objective approach and setting aside biases, I am pretty sure like Nabeel that many will conclude that there is no greater faith than in Jesus Christ.

Online References
https://twitter.com/NAQureshi
https://twitter.com/Acts17
https://carm.org/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DakEcY7Z5GU (one of the most powerful stories to Nabeel, and me)

Book Review - The Way of a Pilgrim (classic)

Fam,

My attention was first caught when I randomly read this quote somewhere:

"By God's Grace I am a Christian man, by my actions a great sinner."
--The Way of a Pilgrim, R. M. French [tr.]

There's a lot of talk on "grace" nowadays. it's like the new cool word among churches. But what is grace? I already have a firm definition and examples, but I wanted to further shape my understanding of this word and how other's use it.

I also believe that reading books from other cultures and from unknown or unpopular people is helpful in expanding my perspectives and mindset. I find that a lot of Americans, not just American Christians, particularly read publications mainly from - Americans, specifically white Americans.

So after searching online where this quote came from, I bought this translated Russian book, "The Way of a Pilgrim", and began reading it. Click here for a link to purchasing the book.

At first, the book seemed a little boring as the beginning sets up the way (i.e. journey) of this pilgrim. There is no name attached to the pilgrim and not much is said of his background. But what really begins to stand out while reading through the chapters is prayer. This is a book on prayer - how a pilgrim is searching for his answer on "praying without ceasing." How is that possible?

There are a lot of great things revealed in this book especially the power and importance of simple prayer. Prayer truly does change things, no matter the length of prayer nor the difficulty of circumstances. Prayer shows trust in God.

By the end of the book, I have learned a few references by other monks and such to help me understand Christianity more. Most importantly, I have learned more about prayer and why this weapon is the most powerful.

My favorite quotes and key takeaways

• "Man is called to be by nature one with the created world and to become by grace one with God, uniting the creator with the creature."
• Engaging in prayer with Jesus takes removal of ego, belief that life is only found in God, and will for conversion (or further transformation).
• The Philokalia is a reference to another book to add onto my reading list.
• "Ceaseless interior prayer is a continual yearning of the human spirit towards God."
• "The Christian is bound to perform many good works, but before all else what he ought to do is to pray, for without prayer no other good work whatever can be accomplished. Without prayer he cannot find the way to the Lord, he cannot understand the truth, he cannot crucify the flesh with its passions and lusts, his heart cannot be enlightened with the light of Christ, he cannot be savingly united to God."
• If there's any unceasing prayer to pray, it is this: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me."
• "...one and the same person at one and the same time should do three quite different things. 'Seated at a table,' he says, 'supply your body with food, your ear with reading and your mind with prayer.'" This quote provides insight that one can pray without ceasing because of how God has given humans the ability to multi-function and multi-process simultaneously.
• "Quench not the Spirit."
• "...interior prayer bears fruit in three ways: in the Spirit, in the feelings, and in revelations."
• "When the soul is made holy the body becomes holy also."
• A Russian proverb: "man proposes, but God disposes." Similar to Proverbs 16:9.
• "Every feeling is base compared with the sweet knowledge of grace in the heart."
• It's not just about praying with our mouth, but more with our heart. "...you can notice for your spiritual profit that the tone of the praying voice varies with different people."

Verse
"pray without ceasing"

Conclusion
At the end of the day especially back in those days, a person didn't need to have a Bible, be able to read, be a member of a good church, frequently be in a Christian community, or even know how to pray. A person just needed to pray. Always. And then the blessing of His understanding would come.

Alleluia.

Phileo Love,
G2

Praying for the Lord's Soldiers to come

Fam,

Where are the Lord's soldiers at? News like this saddens me and really makes me wonder where the church has gone...

Gang networks in Europe 'forcing children to steal' - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36595175

We have to defend the defenseless. It's all of our callings, especially as men of God.

That's all,
G2

Observe, take the greatness of married couples!

- Our Marriage Advice to Newly Weds -

After being with my lovely wife for almost a decade now (i.e. ten years), I have not come across any advice that has served as the shield of our marriage, in protecting it, nor as the blood, in keeping our marriage alive and well. Everyone's marriage is different and that makes sense because everyone is different. Sure, we all see patterns among each other to help us know who we want to befriend or associate. The same can actually be said about seeing patterns of married couples. If we hang around a couple for a long time, then we start to see certain patterns of the couple. In marriage, we see the patterns amplified from the couple. A couple desiring to have a prominent marriage will pick up the positive patterns and recognize their own negative patterns that need to be purged from their marriage. This develops a subconscious will within the married couple to have a wonderful marriage and love life.

Like many little boys and girls, it is that subconscious will (or wish) to be like someone great that drives our life. This is how marriage should be. We, married couples, must envision the peak of our marriage and together climb to it. Bridging this dream with reality, find some married couples to model after. Find what you both like from a certain married couple and agree to model the same pattern because it will help you both get closer to your vision of marriage. Ask married couples with these positive patterns on how they do it and why they do it. Investigate as if you were solving society's marriage crisis and wanted to prove how marriage actually happens and why it is sacred. And as you take from these older married couples, refine the patterns with today's circumstances in preparing to pass on these golden guidelines to future married couples.

In closing, find a few trustworthy, married couples who you both want to model your marriage after and have them mentor you (both) through life.