Zondervan Blog

June 07, 2012

Hub and Spoke: Where Does God Fit In Our Lives? [Excerpt]

If your life were a wheel, would God be a spoke, or would He be the hub?

What difference does it even make?

Check out this message from the NIV Once-A-Day Devotional for Men. I added some photos I hope you'll find as exciting as I did! -Adam Forrest, Zondervan

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Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the Lord.
Psalm 96:11-13

There's this idea floating around that God, church, and other spiritual matters are spokes in the wheel of a person's busy life. People say things like, "Oh, yeah, I go to church" in the same way they'd say, "Oh, yeah, I go to that gym" or "Oh, yeah, I'm on that committee."

But the Bible makes it quite clear that God's desire — and the best way to live life — is not to have God as one spoke on the wheel of your life, but to have him as the hub. Sometimes people compartmentalize their spiritual life, like one of those TV dinners. Your job is in one aluminum compartment, your family in another, and your spiritual life — God — in another.

But life works best when you bring God into every area of your life. He can bring change, health, and growth to every aspect of your life — from your job, to your social life, to all your relationships.

In the passage above, the psalmist charges everything to praise God. The earth. The sea. The land. The stars. Trees. Forests. Fields. Everything. All of God's creation — including us — has reason to be joyful because of how good God is.

Does [the whole of your life] reflect praise to God? Chances are, you're going to say no. That's OK. Today you can invite God in.

Take a moment to consider the whole of your life. Does it all belong to God? And more importantly, does it all reflect praise to God? Chances are, you're going to say no. That's OK. Today you can invite God in. Tell him about an area you're having problems with or are worried about. Watch what a difference it makes when God is your hub and not just a spoke on your wheel.

Learn more about NIV Once-A-Day Devotional for Men.
Discover more Once-a-Day Devotionals.

Postscript: Do you feel like a carriage wheel or train wheel?

The Once-A-Day Devotional message above prompted some questions for me, and I'd like to share them with you.

Do you feel like God is just one part of your life, like a spoke on this wagon wheel?

If we invite God into every area of our life, and make it our mission to reflect His glory, our life will be more like this train wheel:

A life that praises God wholly is solid. Unified.

I used to be afraid that making my life about His glory would make the me in me fade and disappear. But this has not been my experience. I believe we become whole people when we worship God wholly. (See Isaiah 60:2-3, Romans 12:6-8)

I'll see you on the train, compañeros.

-Adam Forrest, Zondervan

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Learn more about Once-A-Day Devotional for Men.

June 06, 2012

When God Whispers, aka Sixty Pounds of Peaches [Excerpt]

Bill Hybels shares a story about following the Holy Spirit's promptings in this excerpt from The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God, Having the Guts to Respond [eBook].

Have you ever had an experience like Bill's? I'd love to hear your story, just leave a comment on the post. -Adam Forrest, Zondervan

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There are seasons when I am "meticulously obedient" to the will and whispers of God, and then there are times when I'm sure I know a better way. Still, I try to keep coming back to my heavenly Father with open hands, an open heart and a keener interest in whatever insights he is willing to share. "God, if there is something you would like me to do," I prayed recently, "then please say so. It doesn't matter what it is; I'll do it."

Wouldn't you know it? He actually took me up on that prayer.

Lynne and I had just come from a funeral home across town after saying our final farewells to my aunt. As we approached our car, I spotted a frail, elderly woman pulling into the nearby apartment complex. She parked her car and began to slowly and laboriously pull grocery bags out of her trunk. "How about helping that woman with her groceries?" the Holy Spirit seemed to prompt.

I initially brushed past the whisper because Lynne was with me and we were ready to go. But I had just made that offer to God, "If there is something you would like me to do..." I knew I had to comply.

"Lynne," I said, "I've got this little pact going with God, and I need to go help that woman with her groceries for a minute..."

Bill Hybels

My wife tried to conceal her dumbfounded expression, but I saw it peeking through. You probably know the look, the one that says, "You? Living at your pace? Helping someone you don't even know? Wow. It must be God."

I approached the elderly woman. "Can I give you a hand with your groceries?" I asked.

"Oh, yes! Thank you!" she said, relieved.

I knew that this small act of kindness would honor God...what I didn't know was that those grocery sacks boasted thirty pounds of fresh peaches each.

The driveway leading back to her apartment ... was roped off, meaning residents had to walk a few hundred yards just to get from their cars to their homes. I knew that this small act of kindness would honor God and help meet a real need; what I didn't know was that those grocery sacks boasted thirty pounds of fresh peaches each. Pretending the added weight didn't affect me a bit, I said, "All set here. You lead the way."

She began winding through backyards that had become swamps due to recent rains. [It turns out the] woman was extremely arthritic [and] had some sort of emphysema that forced us to take a breather every forty-five seconds or so. It took us a full thirty minutes to make our way to her apartment, and by the time we arrived, we were tight. I had learned more about this dear woman's life than I could ever have hoped to know.

We entered her modest home, and ... I set the sacks on the counter before turning to shake her hand and then let myself out through the front door. The woman left her bony, wrinkled hand in mine long after the handshake was done. "I will believe to my dying day that God sent you to help me just now," she said.

The whole deal felt so inglorious—the wet feet, the longer-than-expected trek, the lack of any earth-shattering results—and yet as I walked away from the apartment complex, something in my spirit felt right. God had whispered a simple instruction my way, and this time I had actually slowed down enough to listen. There is no greater feeling in the world than to hear—and heed—God's voice...

I have come to believe over time that it is the little acts of obedience that invite God's power to fully flow in our lives.

I have come to believe over time that it is the little acts of obedience that invite God's power to fully flow in our lives. When you and I prove ourselves faithful with the small whispers, he entrusts us with bigger ones. And when we follow through on those big ones, big kingdom results can be gained. This is what Ananias experienced firsthand, on that day when Saul became Paul. Back to our text.

- Bill Hybels (@billhybels)

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Learn more about Bill Hybels's The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God, Having the Guts to Respond (eBook).

June 05, 2012

I'll Have Jesus, with a Little Idolatry on the Side [Excerpt]

"Everything I have is yours," we say to Jesus. "What about that thing you're hiding behind your back?" Jesus asks...

Jesus hears some pretty funny excuses when he calls followers to him in Luke 9. Likewise, when people choose their favorite thing over the pearl of great price, I'm reminded of a vaudeville comedy routine. I'd laugh more loudly, except I'm too busy acting out my own leading role in the idolatry play.

This post is about how we can respond to Jesus's call, and what we have to gain. [Excerpt from the new Teen Edition of Kyle Idleman's Not a Fan (Teen Edition): What Does It Mean to Really Follow Jesus (eBook).] -Adam Forrest, Zondervan

You, me and the Knights Templar

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I was reading about a strange baptism practice that was allowed by the church when the Knights of Templar would be baptized. When the church would baptize one of the knights, they would be baptized with their sword, but they wouldn't take their swords under water with them. Instead they would hold their swords up out of the water while the rest of them would be immersed. It was the knights' way of saying to Jesus, "You can have control of me but you can't have this. Jesus, I'm all yours, but who I am and what I do on the battlefield, how I use this sword, that's not part of the deal" ...

If that was still the practice today, we might not hold up a sword, but my guess is that many would hold up a wallet. Some would hold up a remote control. Others would hold up a laptop.

Many fans say to Jesus, 'Anything and everything I have, I give to you.' But Jesus points to what you're hiding behind your back and says, 'What about that?'

Many fans say to Jesus, "I will follow. Anything and everything I have, I give to you." But Jesus points to what you're hiding behind your back and says, "What about that?" For Nicodemus it was a religious reputation. For the Rich Young Ruler it was his stuff. For this man it seems to be his family relationships that held him back. They are willing to follow Jesus, but the relationship isn't exclusive. They're holding on to some things from the past.

Jesus doesn't want followers who have a divided affection or a split allegiance. And so Jesus points to what you most value and are most concerned about, and says, "What about that?"

For Pam, Jesus was asking, "What about food?" For years she turned to food rather than Jesus as her source of comfort and satisfaction. She finally realized she couldn't call herself a follower of Jesus if she was unwilling to surrender this area of her life to him.

Steve said, "I want to follow Jesus with everything." And Jesus asked, "What about your entertainment choices?" Steve wanted to be a follower of Jesus, but for a long time he kept looking back to television shows and internet sites that filled him with lust. He wanted to follow Jesus, but not with both hands on the plow; he kept looking back.

Jesus says to Stephanie, "What about your friends?" Stephanie called herself a follower of Jesus, but her life didn't revolve around Jesus. Her life revolved around her friends. Her friends were where she found her greatest joy. Her friends determined whether it was a good day or a bad day.

To Doug, Jesus asks, "What about your money?" Over the years Doug had found his identify and self-worth not in being a follower of Jesus, but in money and the things money could buy. With a downturn in the economy Doug has begun to realize that though he said he would follow Jesus, he has spent most of his time and given most of his attention to looking back...

Why does Jesus want followers to surrender everything?

Please understand: Jesus loves you so much. He died to have a relationship with you. He will not share your heart with anyone. He will settle for nothing less than your complete devotion and heartfelt affection. He made no compromises when he came and gave his life up for you, and he takes no compromises now as he asks you to do the same.

The reason Jesus is so adamant about followers surrendering everything is because the reality is this: the one thing we are most reluctant to give up is the one thing that has the most potential to become a substitute for him. Really what we're talking about here is idolatry. When we are to be following Jesus, who is ahead of us, but find ourselves looking behind us, we are revealing that we are substituting something or someone for him.

When we finally surrender that one thing, we discover the satisfaction that comes from following Jesus that was always missing when we were holding something back.

- Kyle Idleman (@kyleidleman)

Learn More

Learn more about the new Not a Fan (Teen Edition): What Does It Mean to Really Follow Jesus? [eBook]. (You may already be familiar with Kyle Idleman's original book Not a Fan.)

June 04, 2012

Enjoying Pleasure to the Fullest [Excerpt]

Does God like to look at trees?

I think he does! Genesis 2:9 says, "The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."

That single verse reminds us of two things: God created pleasure, and we're often tempted to chase pleasure "out of bounds." (I bet Adam and Eve had some regrets about their encounter with "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.")

Below, Philip Yancey reflects on how we can enjoy God's good gifts to the fullest. I've added a little quiz question, hoping you find it helpful. [This is an excerpt from Philip Yancey's Grace Notes: Daily Readings with Philip Yancey (eBook).] -Adam Forrest, Zondervan

Great Good + Grave Danger

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Why is sex fun? Why is eating fun? Why are there colors? ...

Where did pleasure come from? That seems to me a huge question — the philosophical equivalent, for atheists, to the problem of pain for Christians. Don't atheists and secular humanists have an equal obligation to explain the origin of pleasure in a world of randomness and meaninglessness? ...

Pleasure is at once a great good and a grave danger. If we start chasing pleasure as an end in itself, along the way we may lose sight of the One who gave us such good gifts as sexual drive, taste buds, and the capacity to appreciate beauty. As Ecclesiastes tells it, a wholesale devotion to pleasure will, paradoxically, lead to a state of utter despair.

The Christian's Choice

We can set about enjoying pleasure to the fullest, which means enjoying it in the way the Creator intended.

Somehow Christians have gotten a reputation as anti-pleasure, and this despite the fact that they believe pleasure was an invention of the Creator himself. We Christians have a choice. We can present ourselves as uptight bores who sacrificially forfeit half the fun of life by limiting our indulgence in sex, food, and other sensual pleasures. Or we can set about enjoying pleasure to the fullest, which means enjoying it in the way the Creator intended.

Not everyone will accept the Christian philosophy of pleasure as a gift best enjoyed within the bounds of the Creator's intent. Some skeptics will scoff at any insistence on moderation. For these skeptics, I have a few simple questions. Why is eating fun? Why are there colors? I'm still waiting for a good explanation that does not include the word God.

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-Philip Yancey

Q: Think of your favorite pastime. How do you know when you're enjoying that pleasure within bounds of God's intent?

In other words, whose opinions do you listen to? You may find this helpful: Rank these authorities from 1 to 4 (1 = most authoritative, 4 = least authoritative).
___ I listen to my conscience
___ I look to the most commonly accepted opinion
___ I look to the opinions of certain people I trust
___ I look to what the Bible says

Learn more about the eBook Grace Notes: Daily Readings with Philip Yancey
Visit Philip Yancey's blog

June 01, 2012

How I Want to Go Out [Excerpt by Mark Buchanan]

What do you want to be like at the end of your faith journey?

When you're full of years, leaning on your staff, what kinds of messages will you impart to others? Curses or blessings?

Author/ pastor Mark Buchanan wants to go out like Jacob did. Mark's vision infected me, and you can catch it too in this excerpt from Your Church Is Too Safe: Why Following Christ Turns the World Upside-Down. -Adam Forrest, Zondervan

Mark Buchanan

I have made Hebrews 11:21 an icon for my own journey: "By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff."

That's the faith I want to live and die by.

In Jacob, the sign of that faith is a man who, though doddering and muttering, spends his last breath, his last strength, in worship and in blessing. And the ones he blesses are the children. He does not spend his meager breath and failing strength complaining about how loud the music is, how unruly and ungrateful the youth of today are, how poorly designed the facilities are... He worships and he blesses. And the young ones receive his blessing as gift and as treasure. The children have his example to guide their own lives by. They have his legacy of faith passed down.

It's how I want to finish.

I think of the wisdom of the Cowichan people, the First Nations tribe in the region where I live. One of the former chiefs of the Cowichans told me, "Every time we gather as a people, the purpose of our gathering is to make the world better and safer for our children." "Men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets, each with cane in hand because of his age. The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there."

May our churches be the epicenter of this, a healing of the generations.

- Mark Buchanan

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Learn more about Your Church Is Too Safe: Why Following Christ Turns the World Upside-Down.

May 31, 2012

What Do You Mean, Love My Neighbor "as Myself"? [Excerpt]

What do you do with those two little words at the end of Christ's Greatest Commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself"?

Can you confidently say, "I love myself"?

Joel N. Clark suggests that learning to truly love yourself may unleash your full strength for loving your neighbor.

This is an excerpt from what I call Joel's "Christian adventure memoir," Awake: Discover the Power of YOUR Story (The Book You Can Watch). -Adam Forrest, Zondervan

The Least-known part of the Great Commandment

Joel N. Clark

I was visiting a church recently and found myself listening to a sermon on Jesus' greatest commandment. The pastor read a verse I think I've heard more than any other verse: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind; and love your neighbor." He quoted the verse at least ten times throughout his message.

Something was annoying me, but I couldn't figure out what it was. I picked up my Bible, found the verse, and read it. I was right. The actual verse reads,

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.

The pastor is a great guy and he was preaching a good sermon. But it was as if those two little words, "as yourself," got in the way of what he was trying to say. They were unimportant.

[The Greatest Commandment] is like the CliffsNotes for life.

The verse is found in Matthew 22, and this entire section is amazing... The religious leaders asked Jesus to tell them which was the most important... Jesus broke down a thousand plus years of law into these three statements. I think this is pretty huge. It's like the CliffsNotes for life...

I have only ever heard one sermon about the "as yourself" portion of this Scripture... The pastor said that loving myself had something to do with eating right, going to the gym, and generally looking after myself. It meant that I should stand in front of a mirror and talk to myself, affirming those things I like about me. Even as a child I remember thinking that this was a very silly message.

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If I understand language at all, "as yourself" is put on an equal level with "loving your neighbor," just one step under "loving God." If this is true, then it is one of the three most important things we could ever do with our lives. Yet I understand why it's not talked about. Pride is something that nobody needs to learn. We don't need to be taught to think highly of ourselves; it is humility that's the hard lesson. I'm sure this is why we spend most of our time learning how to love God and love others.

If anything, it would be easy to look at the world and say we all love ourselves too much. With much of the world obsessed with making more money and buying the newest "toys," it would make sense to say we need to learn to teach, teach, teach people how to live outside themselves and spend time loving their neighbors. But excess and pride have nothing to do with love...

I think the reason for much of the excess and egotism in the world is precisely that we haven't taken the time to learn how to love ourselves.

I think the reason for much of the excess and egotism in the world is precisely that we haven't taken the time to learn how to love ourselves. It is in loving ourselves that we learn humility. It is in loving ourselves that we begin to understand that excess isn't the answer. And most important, it is in loving ourselves that we are able to fully love others.

I no longer think that breaking down Jesus' second greatest commandment into healthy eating, exercise, and positive self-esteem is what Jesus was talking about. Although he doesn't spell it out for us precisely, I think that when Jesus told us to love ourselves, he was commanding us to live fully awake...

Loving God + Loving Neighbor as Yourself = Living Fully Awake

I believe one of the key ways God shows his love to us is through the opportunities he gives us to awaken our hearts. Each time I step out in faith and embrace life to its fullest, I awaken to a deeper intimacy in my relationship with Jesus. I believe the way we most fully experience God's love is when we make the choice to love ourselves enough to pursue what he has placed in front of us.

Continue reading "What Do You Mean, Love My Neighbor "as Myself"? [Excerpt]" »

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May 30, 2012

The Father's Kindness (Let it Flow - Excerpt)

What words come to mind when you hear "heavenly Father"? How about these: compassion, patience, mercy, love, kindness?

With Father's Day near (and because the reminder is good anyway), here's an excerpt on the kindness of the heavenly Father - and how we can do our part to spread it around. [Excerpt from NIV Voices of Faith Devotional Bible: Voices from the Past and Present.] -Adam Forrest, Zondervan

The Kindness of the Father [by S. J. Hill]

If we recognize that God's heart is filled with passion for us even in our weakness, we will be catapulted into personal wholeness and spiritual maturity.

When my two sons left home and ventured out on their own, I realized even more how much I loved them. I would think about them all the time. I would call them on the phone just to hear their voices. I would picture in my mind what they looked like. More than once I heard the Lord speak so gently to me, "If you feel this way about your sons, how do you think I feel about you?"

I was often reminded of the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:9–11: "[Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!]"

Today as I was thinking about my sons and reflecting on those experiences, I was so overcome by the love of the Father that I broke down and wept. I realized again that when we, as His children, catch a glimpse of the beauty of His heart, it will ignite such deep passions within us that we will gladly abandon ourselves to Him.

A Living Expression [by Mother Teresa, AD 1910 – 1997]

Be the living expression of God's kindness:
   kindness in your face,
   kindness in your eyes,
   kindness in your smile,
   kindness in your warm greeting.

Learn More

Learn more about the NIV Voices of Faith Devotional Bible

A Friendly Dare: Ask someone you trust, "What expressions do you often see from me?" Is your kindness visible? Or is something else in your heart spilling out, such as fear, anxiety, or impatience?

May 29, 2012

Announcing the Beginner’s Bible Storybook App for iPad (Watch the Video)

We're excited to announce that the best-selling children's Bible of all time, The Beginner's Bible, is coming soon for iPad as a storybook app!

The Beginner's Bible App will be free for all to download. It will include 6 Bible stories, coloring pages and a game.

Get your first look at the app when you watch the video, then sign up to be notified as soon as it's available!

We are so excited about the app's upcoming release!

A child's first Bible is so important. It can set a child on a course of lifelong Bible exploration. The Beginner's Bible is the first print Bible that many children receive in their life – and for good reason. The book is a vibrant, engaging introduction to the characters and stories in God's Word.

We set out to create an app that captures the appeal of the book. From the app you can expect:

Each illustration will be interactive. For example, in the story of Noah's Ark, kids will be able to push the elephants onto the ark, and set the ark rocking on the water.
The app includes fun activities, such as an interactive game and coloring pages.
It's easy to use. We designed the app so young children can use it easily on their own or along with their parents.
Experience Bible stories with your kids. While kids can listen to the stories through the app's built-in audio (complete with sound effects), parents can turn off the audio and read it aloud with their children.

Parents, if you want your preschooler to begin learning about the Bible, introduce them to this app and you'll have an eager audience.

You'll see what I mean when you watch the Beginner's Bible App video.

May 25, 2012

The Good News about Failure [Excerpt]

This post is for those of us who've thought, "When I get serious about spiritual growth, it seems like I just stumble more often. I'm taking one step forward, two steps backward!"

It feels discouraging, but there's good news for you. John Ortberg shares the news in this excerpt from The Me I Want to Be: Becoming God's Best Version of You. -Adam Forrest, Zondervan

Experts in the learning field sometimes talk about the J-curve, a graph measuring performance, in which someone initially does worse before they start improving. Their progress looks like a letter "J" when graphed, with an initial dip before things head upward.

J-curve

The J-curve is normal: We do worse for a season before we do better.

John Ortberg

If you have been hitting tennis backhands the wrong way, when someone teaches you the correct grip, proper form, and right footwork, when you begin to try to hit them the right way — you will actually hit them worse than when you were trying the wrong way! If you stick with it, however, eventually your backhand will be far better than before. But you have to accept that at first it will be worse.

When the disciple Peter first exercised enough faith to get out of the boat, he sank and looked worse than any of the other disciples. When he tried to defend Jesus, he cut off a man's ear. When he promised to be loyal, he fell flat on his faith. When he tried to advise Jesus, he was a devil's advocate.

Jesus was so patient with his disciples that we might think of the J-curve as the Jesus-curve.

Eventually, though, Peter's faith and boldness and loyalty and wisdom enabled him to become a leader of the church. But he got worse before he got better. Notice that this did not surprise or discourage Jesus. In fact, Jesus was so patient with his disciples that we might think of the J-curve as the Jesus-curve. He will never stop helping a follower of his who is sincerely seeking to grow.

Jesus will always lead us toward growth, and growth always requires risk, and risk always means failure. So Jesus is always leading us into failure. But he never gives up on a student just because he or she fails.

If you haven't been confronting when you should and you begin, you will do it badly at first. If you have rarely encouraged people, your initial attempts may be clumsy. If you have never shared your faith with someone, the first time you do it you may stumble all over yourself.

Go ahead and stumble. Failure isn't falling down; failure is refusing to try. We ought to celebrate failure. We are living on the J-curve.

-John Ortberg

Q: Am I harder on myself than Jesus is?

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Learn more about John Ortberg's book, The Me I Want to Be.
Follow John Ortberg on Twitter: @johnortberg.

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June 07, 2012

Postscript: Do you feel like a carriage wheel or train wheel?

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June 06, 2012

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June 05, 2012

You, me and the Knights Templar

Why does Jesus want followers to surrender everything?

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June 04, 2012

Great Good + Grave Danger

The Christian's Choice

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June 01, 2012

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May 31, 2012

The Least-known part of the Great Commandment

Loving God + Loving Neighbor as Yourself = Living Fully Awake

May 30, 2012

The Kindness of the Father [by S. J. Hill]

A Living Expression [by Mother Teresa, AD 1910 – 1997]

Further Reading

May 29, 2012

We are so excited about the app's upcoming release!

More Bible stories to come

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May 25, 2012

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