We are consumed by safety. Obsessed with it, actually. Now, Iโm not saying it is wrong to pray for Godโs protection, but I am questioning how weโve made safety our highest priority. Weโve elevated safety to the neglect of whatever Godโs best is, whatever would bring God the most glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our lives and in the world.
Francis ChanTrying harder doesnโt work for me. Slowly Iโve learned to pray for Godโs help and He has become my greatest love and desire.
Francis ChanSometimes we shrink from leadership because our pride makes us afraid of failure. That's not humility.
Francis ChanWe live in a relativistic culture, where people are more con- cerned with being liked than being truthful. In A Sweet and Bitter Providence, John Piper does an outstanding job of bibli- cally defending key truths that the church often ignores. He gives us an example of how to take a bold and educated stand on issues of race, purity, and God's sovereignty.
Francis ChanChurchgoers all across the nation say the Holy Spirit has entered them. They claim that God has given them a supernatural ability to follow Christ, put their sin to death, and serve the church. Christians talk about being born again say that they they were dead but now have come to life. We have become hardened to those words, but they are powerful words that have significant meaning. Yet when those outside the church see no difference in our lives, they begin to question our integrity, out sanity, or even worse, our God. And can you blame them?
Francis Chan