| | Continuing to update some non-working links. Here are the links to my series "Kingdom-Obsessed People." Please note: I've written a lot of posts dealing with past sins and guilt as part of this series. I know I'd struggled with past sins & guilt and realize many others do as well...
In my series on Things To Look for in a Church, my ninth item was
"Pearl Freaks" (a.k.a. a Kingdom-Obsessed People) I based this on what John White wrote in his book "Magnificent Obsession":
There is a magnificent insanity about the parable in Matthew 13:45. It has to do with a pearl freak–a merchant whose hobby was pearls. Evidently, one day he came across a pearl to end all pearls. Imagine him with staring eyes, quickly taking in his breath, licking his dry lips, then anxiously inquiring about price, haggling and pondering the tremendous cost of the pearl. You can also imagine him returning home and looking over the rest of his pearl collection. With shaking hands he would pick them up one by one and drop them into a soft leather pouch. Not only pearls, but house, slaves and everything would go so that the one pearl might become his...
The way of the cross is a magnificent obsession with a heavenly pearl, beside which everything else in life has no value. If it were a case of buying it, we would gladly sell all we had to do so.
But we cannot buy heavenly treasure. It is not for sale. The point of the parable is that having caught a glimpse of the pearl, we count all else of no value and pursue the treasure.
I ended up writing a lengthy series of posts describing what it means for us to be Kingdom-obsessed people. Here are the links to the posts I wrote:
(1) Kingdom-Obsessed People are Ignited People who keep their eyes on the great cloud of witnesses
(2) Kingdom-Obsessed People know who's "The King"
(3) Kingdom-Obsessed People are not Switch-Hitters or Switch-Pitchers
(4) Kingdom-Obsessed People "Chase What Matters"
(5) Kingdom-Obsessed People don't keep looking in the rear view mirror, # 1: The Problem of the Rear View Mirror (General Introduction)
(5) Kingdom-Obsessed People don't keep looking in the rear view mirror, # 2: Looking Back in the Rear View Mirror at the Good
(5) Kingdom-Obsessed People don't keep looking in the rear view mirror, #3 Looking Back in the Rear View Mirror at the Good
(5) Kingdom-Obsessed People don't keep looking in the rear view mirror...at "unfinished" work, # 4
(5) Kingdom-Obsessed People don't keep looking in the rear view mirror at past hurts, # 5
(5) Kingdom-Obsessed People don't keep looking back at past sins (dealing with guilt), # 6
Dealing with past sins & guilt: Holy God, Holy God, what do YOU see?
Dealing with past sins & guilt: God's good gift of guilt
Dealing with past sins & guilt: Godly guilt does not break the bruised reed
Dealing with past sins & guilt: God does not despise the broken & contrite heart
Dealing with past sins & guilt: Godly guilt leads us to declare spiritual bankruptcy & run home
God's people ought to be welcoming "Hookers & Robbers"
Dealing with past sins & guilt: Micah 7-False guilt vs. Godly guilt--Godly guilt causes us to rise rather than remain fallen
"If any man sin, we have an advocate."
"Either we accept the atonement of Christ or we repeat it."
Dealing with sins & guilt: Henri Nouwen-"God's mercy is greater than our sins."
Dealing with sins & guilt: A Bedtime Benediction from Spurgeon: "Thou art greatly beloved"
Dealing with sin & guilt: Are you wearing the Garment only God can provide?
Forgiveness & cleansing of sin leads to God's Commission: "Penitents should be preachers"
When you're feeling shattered, come to Him in "Pieces"
Naphtali News: speaking to God about my failures: "Thou knowest, Lord"
Naphtali News: God speaking to me about my failures & the one thing needful
God speaking to me about my failures: I can sing in my God speaking to me about my failures: I can sing in my barrenness when I consider Jesus
(6) Kingdom-Obsessed People persevere in scattering seed
(7) Kingdom-Obsessed People don't retire
(8) Kingdom-Obsessed People believe the stone is rolled away
(9) Kingdom-Obsessed People don't seek "great things" for themselves
(10) Kingdom-Obsessed People crown Him Lord of all (Feast of Christ the King)
(11) Kingdom-Obsessed people don't act like Queen Vashti (Bible Reading: Esther)
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| | Posted 6/10/2009 10:40 PM - 34 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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