The Buschel Digest: August 2017

This is the post where I share anything noteworthy I have been reading this last month. While I did read several fiction books this month there was nothing overly exciting to share in that department. I did happen across several blog posts however that stuck out to me. I hope you enjoy them also.

I am still plugging away in my Bible reading. With just three books away from completing the Old Testament I hope to finish the New Testament by the end of the year. Last year I started with the NT and finished with the OT. I included an excellent sermon from our church this past weekend to finish up this post.

Additional Reading: What I Learned from Reading the Bible

Maybe It’s Not an Obstacle

Read this. Great reminder and perspective on difficult and challenging events. “What if your difficult events today are actually not obstacles, but arrows pointing you back to Jesus? What if they’re not standing in the way of your success for today, but instead reminding you to come to the One who defines true success? What if God actually put those events in your life to remind you that you can’t do this?”

I Don’t Understand Christians Watching Game of Thrones

Pastor Kevin DeYoung writes, “Whenever there is a new episode, my Twitter feed overflows with people talking about Game of Thrones. First off, I’m always amazed that this many people have HBO. But second, and much more importantly, I’m always amazed that a number of people I respect–smart people, serious Christians, good conservative thinkers–are obviously watching (and loving) the series.”

Be sure to also read his follow up post One More Time on ‘Game of Thrones’ where he responds to the  numerous comments he received. For the record I agree with Pastor DeYoung.

God Will Give You More than You Can Handle

“Christians can make the strangest claims when comforting those who are suffering. What do you say to someone whose life is falling apart? If you have but few precious minutes with a person who’s lost a job, home, spouse, child, or all sense of purpose, what comfort do you give?

We might turn to conventional wisdom instead of Scripture and end up saying something like, “Don’t worry, this wouldn’t happen in your life if God didn’t think you could bear it.” The sufferer may object, head shaking and hands up. But you insist, “Look, seriously, the Bible promises God won’t ever give you more in life than you can handle.” There it is—conventional wisdom masquerading as biblical truth. You’ve promised what the Bible never does.”

He (and They) Must Not Be a Novice

“The Christian world seems able to support a nearly infinite number of books, programs, and ministries related to marriage and parenting. Few of us feel adequate to the challenges of raising children or loving a spouse. We address our inadequacies by turning to experts, lining up en masse to sit under their teaching and benefit from their wisdom. Yet a surprising number of these are written, founded, or run by people who have very little experience. Their scant experience makes them less than ideal as teachers or mentors, for time has not yet given them humility. In fact, I’d wager that the longer you parent, the less confident you feel in so much of your parenting; the longer you’re married, the more inadequate you feel in guiding anyone else.”

Death on Demand? Dutch Euthanasia Moves in Disturbing Direction

This was truly haunting to read. We as a society are creeping dangerously close to an urban “utopia” that has striking similarities to Lois Lowry’s book The Giver.

“In 2002, the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia. Today, Dutch euthanasia is moving away from “straightforward” cases where a patient has a terminal illness like cancer—and into more oblique territory.

Since 2009, there has been a significant increase in euthanasia for patients with dementia and psychiatric illness. Doctors are also more open to euthanizing elderly patients who have an “accumulation of old-age complaints” rather than an actual terminal illness.”

No Believing Without Following

No Believing Without Following from Compass Christian Church on Vimeo.

We had the privilege of hearing the new Pastor at our satellite campus preach this weekend. The sermon series we are in right now focuses on the journey to discover whether we’re a follower of Jesus, or just a fan. Jesus inevitably asks each of us to consider whether we simply admire Him from a far, or take up our cross and follow Him daily. Our answer to this question determines our eternal destiny! This was an amazing sermon and I know it will be a blessing to you to listen to Pastor Gilbert’s testimony and see the transformative power of the gospel.