Love's Persistence by K.M.

First, thanks to Jackie for creating this blog.

Far from finishing Letters from a Skeptic, I have already had my heart wrenched, not by the intellectual substance in the book—abundant and convincing though it was—but by Dr. Greg Boyd's persistent love for his father. The true feat of this book is the heart behind it, not the mind. Answering trenchant, intellectually rigorous questions for three years requires a sharp mind to be sure, but without an impetus commensurate with the intellectual challenge, Dr. Greg Boyd would have thrown in the towel and the discussion petered out, ending in, I can only assume, what is far too common to my conversion efforts—an ugly welter of doubt, frustration, unanswered questions, and so on—especially since the questions were often derogatory.

Not every attempt to reach out to someone—or to reach into someone (which, on a side note, I think is a more suitable description of evangelism)—has to be successful, it won't, and chiseling at granite, of which the heart is made, can be frustrating, but how often do I really pour out my heart? Considered in connection with Alive, and my subsequent complacency, this question feels like a scorching rebuke. It was easy enough to hand out those flyers when the entire church was doing it. Alive was a blast. Immediately after the performance, riding high on adrenaline and relief, I struck up a couple spiritual conversations with the friends I invited. I went back home and went to bed feeling great. But then a week went by, then another. The past few years of my life are strewn with conversations I never followed up on. Something needs to change—but what? I think to answer the question, I need to address another question: Why do I want to love?

I have received God's love, and I am a person who, cannot fathom, but can recognize God's love for me. I believe that God loves me so much that he gave his one and only son to die for me on the cross. I am a sinner whose God's persistent love has pierced. Pastor Timothy gave a message on God's persistent love for us—God is the unrelenting hound of heaven. God did not hold back on me when he gave his beloved son. That is why I want to love.

I don't think it's a matter of trying harder. I don't think I am capable of love like that. The difference between the love I am capable of and the love that God requires is a difference of kind, not of degree. And I think that this different kind of love, this truly persistent love that I want is found only in God Himself. So, it is in truly understanding God's love for me that I am empowered to truly love, and love persistently.

God gave me everything. How could I give any less?

K.M.

04.25.2016

Letters from a Skeptics Blog Post (J.W.)

Hi,

I am honored to post the first ever blog post on this book. Below I will input my thoughts and insights I gained from the book just for sharing. Please excuse my grammar :)


 First, I have to say that this is really an awesome and eye-opening book. I started reading after April, 5th of 2016 and ended today (April 6th of 2016).  This book serves as an excellent guide for our non-Christians friends or family members we have.

I don't want to make this blog post as an summary focus of each chapter since that will be pretty boring. I think it would be better if I picked one or two points I think is an idea worth sharing for Christians.

1. "Much of the materials in the Bible only begins to make sense after one's heart has been touched by the Lord" (152).

Why does this matters? well I think for me this is quite true as to how I view the Bible before I really converted to a real Chrisitan. Reading the stories and parables of Bible used to make me feel like reading something that has nothing to do with my life. It feels like if Jesus is just doing his own thing(like the phrase let you do you), and I would just keep on doing my own business. Oh, I don't know how I have to thank for how God has changed my life and in a way change the way I view the Bible.

2. "His(Author's father) response floored me. Sitting in his wheelchair, wearing diapers, unable to do anything but the most elementary tasks for himself, nearly totally blind and deaf, this once-malcontented man said in his stroke-impaired speech, 'Because I feel so blessed by God just to be here' " (235).

I think this is such an encouraging scene to watch as to how a gospel can change someone who as "once arrogant, intellectual giant" (234) to someone who trusted God so much as his son did. It really urges me to spread the gospel to my family members, especially my dad, who is still a seeker.

Anyways, I think this is good for our first blog post. I don't want to overwhelm you guys. And I certainly don't want you guys to regard this as a template to follow for the future posts. Being said, there is no words limit or citation or anything. Just feel free to share what is going on in your minds and I believe this will be a really encouraging to what you guys have to say about this book. I think by sharing, our class can also grow in light of his words as a whole through great books like this.


---J.W.