Risk is Right

Dear Friends,

I just read Risk is Right by John Piper.  You can find the free pdf here.

So what do you think?  “Risk is right.”  True or false?  A natural response would be “sometimes.”  Don’t we always want to respond to true/false questions like this?  We introduce ambiguity and end up pausing, pondering, rationalizing, wondering, and wandering.  Basically, we’re paralyzed.

I wonder if you would consider that risking for God is always right.  Always.

Esther did not know that she would live to speak to the king.  She did not know that God would save her people.  But she did not wait around wondering if it was worth the risk.  She committed to try.  She asked her people to join her in 3 solid days of prayer and fasting, saying, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).  Similarly, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not “go with the flow” and bow down to the king’s statue while they pondered what to do.  They remained standing, saying, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire… But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:17-18).  In both cases, even if they died on the spot, they were right to risk.  Not for their valor.  But because of His value.  And for His glory.

“The paralyzing fear of making a decision serves no one.  It is cowardly.  Risk is the only way forward” (20).

When people don’t risk, opportunities are wasted.  Time is wasted.  Lives are wasted.  (Remember the generation that wandered in the desert instead of taking the risk and entering the promised land?  See Numbers 13:31-33.)  If we are in Christ, we can risk and should risk knowing that nothing can separate us from His love (Rom 8).  Short-term success is not promised.  But eternity with Jesus is promised for those who believe.  The end of the story is already written:  Jesus is coming back.  A crowd too great to count will praise Him.  Every nation and language will be represented (Rev 7:9).

We should decide now:  is risk right?

Sincerely,

Katie

Book Review: Disappointment with God

Dear Friends,

In Disappointment with God, Philip Yancey addresses 3 main questions:  Is God unfair?  Is God silent?  Is God hidden?

The first half of the book addresses God’s character throughout biblical history.  You may want to rush through those 170 pages to get to the “Big Questions” addressed in the second half, but the history is worth reading even if you are familiar.  There are distinct shifts in how God relates to people over time.  It also helps to point out that these big questions are not new:  people we consider faith heroes struggled with these things (Heb 11).

The book is excellent.  It doesn’t tell you what to think or not to think.  It validates questions and feelings while pointing to truth.  However, I only recommend this book to people who are consumed by the questions above.  Consumed not curious.  If you are just curious, I think there is a major danger of opening a can of worms here that is not for you.  It would be easy for you to adopt these emotional and spiritual struggles as your own as you read.  Just keep in mind that this book exists in case you ever find yourself with the “Disappointment with God” can of worms already open in your hands.  It would also be appropriate for you to read this with someone you are helping through this struggle, allowing you to understand and process their big questions together.

Remember:  “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.” – Lamentations 3:22

“The alternative to disappointment with God seems to be disappointment without God” (286).

Sincerely,

Katie

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Dear Friends,

I had the privilege of reading a signed copy of a NYTimes bestseller and TIME’s #1 Fiction Book of the Year.  The Fault in Our Stars was recommended to me months ago by my brother.  This is significant because:  1.  That was before it was popular (he’s cool like that) and 2.  He is admittedly not a reader.

It takes a skilled author to appeal to readers (NYTimes and TIME critics) and nonreaders (my brother and others).  And that’s my biggest praise for the book:  it’s for real people.  Sure, the characters go through things many of us have not.  But through the voice of Hazel Grace Lancaster, all real people can relate.

I often wonder if professional critics over-exaggerate praise to get quoted on the back of the next edition or intensify harsh words to somehow put themselves above the text in review.  But this one’s accurate: “A blend of melancholy, sweet, philosophical, and funny. Green shows us true love…” NYTimes Review.  And the guy who made the back of the book:  “You laugh, you cry, and then you come back for more.”  This is certainly true if you allow yourself to engage with the characters in their wit and in their struggles.  And if you see the book categorized as “Young Adult” don’t be alarmed.  It means “All Adults Who Were Once Young” or “Anyone Old Enough to Be in Love.”

To enhance your reading experience, listen to Explosions in the Sky album All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone.  I’m told this applies any John Green book, but I wouldn’t know just yet.  For more from John Green see YouTube or Twitter, where he and his brother Hank have massive followings.

Sincerely,

Katie

 

Oreos and Stuf

Dear Friends,

Have you taken time to celebrate Oreo‘s 100th birthday?  On March 6, 1912, the first Oreo rolled off the line in Chelsea Market Bakery in Manhattan.  I recently discovered the Limited Edition Birthday Cake Oreos.  What a delight!  The occasion inspired a quick photo shoot and an investigation of the history of the Oreo.  Please enjoy this Official Fact Sheet.

While in South Asia this summer, Oreos were a novelty.  Milk’s Favorite Cookie is enjoyed in more than 100 countries, but India is brand new on the list as of 2011.  When we found a roll of Oreos, they didn’t last long.  If you ever find yourself in South Asia, don’t be fooled:  Doreos are not the same.

I’ve always puzzled over the spelling of Stuf to describe the creme filling.  They could spell it normally and then instead of “Double Stuf,” the label could read “Stuffff.”  Double the Stuff, double the f’s.  Sounds like a marketing win, right?

Check out the Birthday Cake Oreos.  Think over some Stuf.  Let me know what you think.

Sincerely,

Katie

P.S.  Other news in 1912:  The first successful expeditions to the South Pole are completed!  To wind back the clock and join the explorers, I recommend The Last Place on Earth by Roland Huntford.  A cool read for the hot summer.