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Archive for the ‘A.J.Jacobs’ Category

The Peace of Committment

Posted in A.J.Jacobs, Committment, Fellowship, tagged on May 25, 2011| Leave a Comment »

” Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.- Jesus (Mark 10:29b-30)

Gathered at a friend’s home with those I have known over the years and some I just met, singing without reservation, enjoying without concern, visiting with so many having different last names but the same father (God) – this is one of the “sweet spots” of following Christ!

It’s a lovely peaceful privilege reserved for those who have committed fully to Christ.

I am reminded of the book I read by A.J.Jacobs on his attempt to live the Bible. He started out a skeptical agnostic and ended a reverent agnostic – his primary hindrance was a decision not to commit. He mentioned time and again how he wanted to be caught up in peace that he saw in believers, but each time he came close he pulled back, afraid of letting go and losing control, and in the end it all eluded him. He was touched but he moved on.

Ah, but when you feel safe in the arms of Christ you can let go and let God do what he wants. You can sing with all your heart and not be afraid of what will happen. You can pray and rest without fear of what God may ask of you – you can because you know God will always do right by you. You know you are loved and accepted by the only one that truly matters.

There is peace in commitment!

Prayer: Jesus, I let go of my life unto you and your care. Amen.
Sound Bite: Let go and Let God

– fritz@langgang.com

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The Agnostic’s Dilemma

Posted in A.J.Jacobs, Christ, Explanations, tagged on May 23, 2011| Leave a Comment »

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. – Jesus (Revelation 3:20)

I am finding this book I am reading interesting. It’s by a self-avowed Jewish agnostic attempting to live what the Bible teaches. He provides an honest, non judgmental, secular perspective – a viewpoint I haven’t seen for a long time.

He, of course, approaches the Bible’s teaching as a “religion” and as such he is scared by it because:

To embrace religion, you have to surrender some control. But what if it’s a slippery slope, and you lose all control, slide right past the Judeo-Christian mainstream, and end up in a yurt kneeling in front of a guy wearing a tablecloth who has renamed you Lotus Petal?”

But our agnostic friend has a dilemma – he has a small son

It’s why I don’t know what do with Jasper. If I give him some religion, then he might become obsessed and go Guru Gill on me. Then again, if I give him no religion, he could descend into moral anarchy. They’re both so risky. I feel like I can’t win!” – The Year of Living Biblically by A.J.Jacobs, page 103

That’s a dilemma that can only be solved by yielding control not to a religion but the living Christ. He never forces us to do anything, but calls to us in love and leads us gently “Beside the still waters…” (Psalm 23:2).

We open the door to Christ, the living Lord, who physically walked out of the tomb and walks into our hearts. He leads us like a good shepherd.

Fall in love with Jesus and there is no dilemma.

– fritz@langgang.com

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The Problem With Religion

Posted in A.J.Jacobs, Control, Quotes, Religion, tagged on May 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »

A.J.Jacobs (click to enlarge)

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. – Isaiah 30:21

I’m reading an interesting book by a self-proclaimed jewish agnostic who decided to live what the Bible commands, as literally as possible, for one year.

I was reluctant, having seen plenty of hack jobs from those with a bone to pick, but so far this author is different. I find his secular yet very honest perspective interesting.

His major problem by Day 13? – I’ll let you read his own words:

“The problem is, a lot of religion is about surrendering control and being open to radical change. I wish I could stow my secular worldview in a locker at the Port Authority Bus Terminal and retrieve it at the end of this year” – A. J.Jacobs, The Year of Living Biblically, pg 36

– fritz@langgang.com

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