http://www.opiso.org Finding and Following Jesus Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:25:39 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A good book outlining the major beliefs, practices and processes of the Christian faith can be immensely helpful.  I still remember reading C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity while sitting by a remote Northern California river, lapping up Lewis's exceptional insights as they  streamed into my soul.  The section on "pride" particularly ... http://www.opiso.org/2008/11/the-best-intro-to-christianity-book/ Every time I go to the dentist the hygienist yells at me for not flossing.  I can't say anything because she usually has three hands in my mouth along with an assortment of utensils.  All I can do is stare up at her and try to indicate with my eyes ... http://www.opiso.org/2008/10/scripture-memory-the-flossing-of-the-spiritual-life/ Everyone is on a mission.  Jesus wants us to join his.  Before coming to Jesus, my mission was "me" (to be honest, for a long time afterwords too!).  Comfort, money, status, coolness, freedom from hassles, acceptance, you name it, we go after it...  even those of us who claim to ... http://www.opiso.org/2008/09/missional-living/ Following Christ is more about the heart than I have often realized.  I'm not talking about the physical organ pumping in the chest, I'm talking about the spiritual "organ" described in the Bible as our will, the receiver of our thoughts, emotions, physical impulses and the part of us that ... http://www.opiso.org/2008/09/journaling-on-the-heart/ Every person has a part to play in God's great and loving pursuit of humankind. To bring this about, the Bible says Christ gave "gifts" to each one of us so that we might fulfill the ministry to which we've been called. What are those gifts? ... http://www.opiso.org/2008/08/new-spiritual-gifts-inventory/ In defining the purpose of Opiso we acknowledge a tension that exists in the spiritual growth process: "Rock solid truths are in the Scriptures, but people need time, space and a process to integrate them into their lives."  A seeker/new believer recently shared with me how someone had trespassed ... http://www.opiso.org/2008/08/spiritual-tailgaiting/ I recently made friends with a Christian in a distant country (aren’t e-mail and Skype terrific?!), and in the course of our friendship she asked for prayer for some members of her extended family, because they were in the midst of a family crisis. So I began a period ... http://www.opiso.org/2008/03/prayer-as-an-expression-of-love/ But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after ... http://www.opiso.org/2008/02/seeking-after-the-interests-of-christ/ In his book A Call to Spiritual Reformation, D.A. Carson looks in some depth at the intercessory prayers of the Apostle Paul, seeing them as guides and models for how we should be praying for one another. After all, if we want to intercede for our brothers ... http://www.opiso.org/2008/01/book-review-a-call-to-spiritual-reformation-by-da-carson/ If following Jesus is good, and we believe it is, then the loving, compassionate thing to do is to share that goodness with others. If what Jesus teaches is true, and we believe it is, then the implications of this life upon the next are hugely significant. Jesus ... http://www.opiso.org/2008/01/resource-witnessing/