A Read Worth The Time And Challenge

I finally finished a book I've been reading for about a year now called "Kisses From Katie." No, it's not a romance novel so you can keep reading!

My wife recommended it (actually she didn't stop talking about it for weeks) and so I finally downloaded it and picked away at it whenever I could.

So, now maybe I won't stop talking about it for weeks.

The book is written by a woman named Katie Davis who visited Uganda in her late teens and was touched so deeply by the suffering and need of the people there that she couldn't not do something about it. Within a short time she went again to Uganda permanently.

Here is the web site of the organization that she started and runs in Uganda.

The book is heavily laden with talk of God and how her experiences with the poorest, most hungry, most destitute, sickest, and most people has both revealed much about God to her and how greatly her work there has been the means for her to mature in ways that would have not been possible any other way.

To be honest it took me so long to read it because every time I did I would walk away completed wrecked over how much stuff I have, how much I want more stuff, and yet how little I appreciate the people that truly matter.

She has a wonderful way of writing that allowed me, if it is possible, to see what she sees day in and day out. Frequently chapters are separated by a journal entry of fears, joys, and sadness that she experienced along the way.

Here are just a few of the quotes that really struck me as I read. The whole book has been a real challenge to emulate her response to the needs of the truly needy rather than just internalize some measure of academic understanding that such a need exists.

While visiting her family in the United States: "I hadn't realized what a transformation had taken place while I had been in Uganda, the spiritual richness I had experienced in material poverty and the spiritual poverty I felt now in a land of material wealth."

"I can miss the will of God. [There was a] rich young [man that met Jesus who] certainly did. He didn't fall dead, as [others in the Bible who ignored God] did; and maybe he went on to live a great life, but it wasn't the life he could have lived had he said yes to what Jesus was asking of him."

"We must know sorrow to be able to fully appreciate joy. Joy costs pain, but the pain is worth it. After all, the murder [of Jesus] had to take place before the resurrection."

Francis Chan – Crazy Love

For a couple of reasons, I normally shy away from books that seem to be all the rage in the Christian church scene.  Really it's probably just my old fashioned-ness avoiding new fangled contraptions and ideas.  One of the books that I veered away from was Crazy Love by Francis Chan - big mistake.  I ended up buying it for Candice a few months ago and she really enjoyed it.  It was challenging, she said.  After hearing some of the difficult topics that he addressed I was very interested.

I have to say this was one of the most refreshing books I’ve read in a while.  I took it in small bites and every day finished with a healthy dose of reality.  I’ve jotted down a few of the quotes that stood out to me the most.  I don't think there's much point to commenting on them much; he did an amazing job of being frank and poignant.

“This book is for those who want more of Jesus.  It is for those that are bored with what American Christianity offers.”  Pg 21 

“It is important that we not measure our spiritual health by the people around us, who are pretty much like us.” Pg. 22 

“We forget that God never had an identity crisis.  He knows that He’s great…” Pg. 22

The fact that we’re the only ones in the universe doesn’t show that the universe is an awfully big waste of space.  The purpose of such a big universe is to demonstrate an unfathomably great God.

“Isn’t it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?” Pg. 31

“… we keep on questioning Him: “Why did You make me with this body, instead of that one?” “Why are so many people dying of starvation?” “Why are there so many planets with nothing living on them?” “Why is my family so messed up?”  “Why don’t You make Yourself more obvious to the people who need You?”
                “The answer to each of these questions is simply this: because He’s God. He has more of a right to ask us why so many people are starving.” Pg. 33

“I can pretty much guarantee you that your funeral will be nice.  They all are.  The fact is, at that point, you won’t care.  … When we face the holy God, “nice” isn’t what we will be concerned with, and it definitely isn’t what He will be thinking about.” Pg. 50

“The truth is [a lukewarm Christian’s life] wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believe in God.” Pg. 78

“When you read [the letter to the Laodicians in the book of Revelations], do you naturally conclude that to be “spit” out of Jesus’ mouth means you’re a part of His kingdom? When you read the words “wretched, pitiful, poor blind, and naked,” do you think that He’s describing saints?” Pg. 84

Francis uses several pages to provide a type of spiritual litmus test.  You might want to buckle up when you get to this part. 

“If one hundred people represented the world’s population, fifty-three of those would live on less than $2 a day.  Do you realize that if you make $4000 a month, you automatically make one hundred times more than the average person on this planet?... Which is more messed up – that we have so much compared to everyone else, or that we don’t think we’re rich? … The reality is that whether we acknowledge our wealth or not, being rich is a serious disadvantage spiritually.  As William Wilberforce once said, “Prosperity hardens the heart.”  Pg. 89-90. 

Ouch, Francis; that hurt.  I think your getting a little too personal there…

“Why do so few people genuinely find joy and pleasure in their relationship with God?  Why do most people feel they have to either pay God back for all He’s done (buy His love) or somehow keep making up for all their inadequacies and failures (prove their love)?”  102

“What are you doing right now that requires faith?”  Pg. 124  Uuuuhhhh.

“He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn’t come through.” Pg. 124

 “A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort.”  Pg. 146

At one point he references an amazing quote by Oswald Chambers: ‘Never make a principle out of your experience; let God be as original with other people as He is with you.’”

“We go to church to hear a well-developed sermon and a convicting thought.  We’ve trained ourselves to believe that if we’re convicted, our job is done.  If you’re just hearing the Word and not actually doing something with it, you’re deceiving yourself.”  Pg. 184

So far I’ve spoken with two others that have read this book and they’ve both had the same reaction: wow.  If you (dare to) pick it up I pray you have the same experience.

Quote of the Day

Who can say that they are master of the their, and not the other way around? I think everyone wishes they had more time available. I identify with fathers that want to do great work at their professions, spend time with their children, be a great husband and friend to their wives, and serve God where He directs.

I feel my anxiety level rise just writing that list. I started a book recently that has really helped me become a better user of "my" time called Redeeming the Time written by Steven Maxwell. This is one passage on what Steve has to say about our activities.

"The Lord could have built a boat for Noah prior to the flood as opposed to it taking Noah up to a hundred years to build it. When He sent the children of Israel into Canaan, He could have wiped out the nations ahead of them. He didn't. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He first asked some men to remove the stone, but He could have spoken a word and had it go flying off into the air. The Lord doesn't need our efforts. Nonetheless, He required them. As James 2:26 says, "... faith without works is dead..."