welcome to the blog of tom roepke. follower of Jesus. husband to melinda. father to sarah, jedidiah and emmah. pastor of student ministries at new hope community church. much like my friend, samwise, i am just trying to find my place in the Story.
this video is disturbing. in the midst of our Lenten journey it seems we need to be more mindful of the place we are called to as believers. not just from the comfort of our own country, where we are far removed from the realities and hardships that many must endure as they faithfully follow Jesus. somehow i missed this story of the persecution of some 50,000 christians in orissa, india. as we reflect on the meaning of Easter may images like these…of persecution or the stories coming out of the Haiti disaster awaken our hearts to ponder what we can and must do to own and share the burden.
Nick Alexander has an amazing sense of humor and out of that gift he helps us focus on what is the first day of our Lenten Journey for 2010. With the cultural mess that we live in today finding joy in the context of understanding our own death to ourselves and being made alive by the power of Easter. Through the Lenten journey we learn to leave ourselves behind and to cling even more tightly to the power of Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. this is not a time to be sorrowful…but to be filled with joy.
be blessed. If you’re interested in doing an online Lenten journey, click here.
this weekend i preached on the question: is there a man in the house? in big church. it was week two of our series on the home. the core focus was on helping men to understand their role as husbands and fathers. and although i didn’t make mention of this image (was saving for week 4) yet a post, entitled In Miami, the Son Also Rises (read whole article here) today by National Review Online editor-at-large Kathryn Jean Lopez offers a reminder that the cultural battle is not yet completely lost. Here’s a clip of Kathryn’s closing thots:
Fatherhood still may be in a state of crisis, but we’re fighting for it, one devoted dad at a time. Drew Brees, fatherhood’s latest poster boy, has struck an inspiring blow for the cause. Like all of us, he’s only human, but there’s great virtue in cheering him on and celebrating the beautiful Super Bowl moment that he shared with his wife and son — and all of us. No paid ad time. No controversy. Only love.
with Valentine’s Day around the corner…thought this would be a good time to post this book review. Love & War: Find the Marriage you’ve Dreamed of
I confess i’m biased to anything john eldredge writes. i’m grateful for his open and honest engagement of issues that are critical to understanding our journey, as men and women through the Story. so now we’ve a book co-authored by John and his delightful bride Stasi looking at the institution of marriage. and Its a definite winner. The book is their sharing in authentic, open and transparent ways about this larger “love story” we a?ll live in…they write:
We live in a love story, set in the midst of war. Love is our destiny, and all hell is set against it. Really it explains so much. We wake each morning and fin that we have to fight our way back to all that is true: we have to fight off the thousands of reasons to settle for less than the life we were created for. Our bodies awaken but then our hearts and souls must awaken too, so that we might play our part in the Grand Affair. And God has made our hearts in such a way that nothing awakens us quite like some great mission which is ours alone to fulfill. Thus the power of fairy tales, all of which turn on this awakening in the heart of the boy and girl.
This book is an excellent read. There is something here that is deep and good. Stasi and John are transparent beyond measure and their risking vulnerability is a huge encouragement to the reader. The reminder of how hard life can be and particularly the difficulty of loving another person in the context of marriage is very real.
Walking through their own struggles and pointing some practical remedies on loving our spouses well. One helpful insight is in the area of spiritual warfare…a reminder that we truly do live in a world that is at “war” and that there is more afoot than what we see.
Along with the book is soon to be released dvd based study. There’s also a useful website that offers a weekly podcast and other information . The Q&A from the book tour (which begins its second leg this weekend) offers some great insights.
Personally, i’ve seen the end result of the honesty of John’s and Staci’s writing in the lives of literally dozens of men and women who are better understanding their walk as Christ followers.
Love & War is book that you’ll want to re-read a couple of times. Much like the Eldredge’s earlier efforts…Wild at Heart, Captivating, et.al. you’ll learn something new each time.
While reading Love and War this week I used a question that is quoted in the book from C.S. Lewis with a couple young men in an at-risk group i lead. That question was “would you rather have Eros or Compansionship?” I was pleasantly surprised by the response that the young men, after pondering it…said “companionship.” Although “eros” was something the liked…there’s was something deeper they needed. Both young men come from circumstances where their place in the story was begun out of “eros”. They realize the deeper disconnect that exists when we get the family thing out of order (i.e.sex – pregnancy – marriage).
I need to remind you that Love & War was graciously provided for review by Waterbrook Multmonah. You can purchase the book via their website here.
Yep… Get it…Buy it…Read it…Live it! Definitely A+.
In a 2008 survey of USA’s religious beliefs and practices found that 55% of all adults — including one in five of those who say they have no religion — believe they have been protected from harm by a guardian angel. An interesting thought.
Dr. David Jeremiah is one of my spiritual heroes. i’ve enjoyed hearing him preach, teach and especially have enjoyed his writing. I’ve enjoyed reading one of his newest titles: Angels: Who they are and How they help…What the Bible reveals. Dr. Jeremiah tackles all the details of where angels come from. what their purpose is and even wrestles with helping us understand the concept of guardian angels. Seems almost providential as the
The book is a great read. Its easy and there’s lots of great elements that he helps the reader wrestle through, even the concept of fallen angels and satan’s role in the whole created order.
One good take away for me came in chapter 11, entitled Showing us how to work. Here’s a clip:
Calvin reflects the “in accommodation to us,” “Scripture has shown us the wings of seraphim and cherubim “to assure us that when occasion requires they will hasten to our aid with incredible swiftness, winging their way to us with the speed of lightning.”….God can count on them, and so can we. There’s no sloppy workmanship or laziness or negligence on their part….When David summons the angels to praise God in Psalm 103, he call the ‘you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word…you his servants who do his will.”
In talking about guardian angels, Jeremiah is quick to tell a boyhood story that almost secures the idea of “something” that kept him from harm so that he could pastor, minister and even right this book.
The good folks at Multnomah/Random House have provided me the review copy and an additional copy to give away. Please leave your name, email and a comment (if you like) about how a “guardian angel” has intervened in your story, to allow you to continue as part of the Story. I’ll draw a random name on Wed, Feb 10th. and get it to you.
I’ve learned some interesting insights from reading this book the least of which is “that angels truly love the Lord, and will always love to serve him”…and so like Dr. Jeremiah, will I.
Great Read! I’d encourage you to Get it.
Review Grade: A
