Day 22: Created to Become Like Christ (and previous days)

Today is Day 22.
I've learned so much from reading in the past few days.

So much, that I barely have enough time to catch my breath and reflect before the next day.
So much, that I'm always thinking blogging which quotes i'd like to share.
So much, that I wish I gave more time to blog them all.

And if i did, I think I'd end up typing about half of the book.

So, without furthur ado, cream-o'-th'-crop "quotes" and {paraphrases} over the past few days, from "The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?" (Rick Warren, most emphasis added)...

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A church family will help keep you from backsliding.
"None of us are immune to temptation. Given the right situation, you and I are capable of any sin. God knows this, so he has assigned us as individuals the responsibility of keeping each other on track. 'Encourage one another daily... so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.' [Acts 2:42 (Msg)] 'Mind your own business" is not a Christian phrase. We are called and commanded to be involved in each other's lives. If you know someone who is wavering spiritually right now, it is your responsibility to go after them and bring them back... 'If you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back.' [James 5:19 (Msg)]"

"... Satan loves detached believers, unplugged from the life of the Body, isolated from God's family and unaccountable to spiritual leaders, because he knows they are defenseless and powerless against his tactics."

"... The difference between being a church attender and a church member is commitment. Attenders are spectators from the sidelines, members get involved in the ministry. Attenders are consumers, members are contributers. Attenders want the benefits of a church without sharing the responsibility. They are like couple who want to live together without committing to a marriage."

".. You can spend a lifetime searching for the perfect church, but you will never find it. You are caled to love imperfect sinners, just as God does."

"I am called to belong, not just believe.."

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"...you will never be asked to forgive someone else more than God has already forgiven you. Whenever you are hurt by someone, you have a choice to make; will I use my energy and emotions for retaliation or for resolution? You can't do both."

"Forgiveness is letting go of the past. Trust has to do with future behaviour... Forgiveness must be immediate, whether or not a person asks for it. Trust must be rebuilt over over time. Trust requires a track record. If someone hurts you repeatedly, you are commanded by God to forgive them instantly, but you are not expected to continue allowing them to hurt you. They must prove they have changed over time."

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Relationships are always worth restoring.
"...God wants us to value relationships and make the effort to maintain them instead of discarding them whenever there is a rift, a hurt, or a conflict. In fact, the Bible tells us that God has given us the ministry of resoring relationships: '...all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.' [2 Corinthians 5:18]. For this reason, a significant amount of the New Testament is devoted to teaching us how to get along with one another. Paul wrote, 'If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you,... Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.' [Philippians 2:1-2, (Msg)]

"...Since Christ wants his family to be known for our love for each other, broken fellowship is a disgraceful testimony to unbelivers. This is why Paul was so embarrassed that the members of th churth in Corinth were splitting into warring factions and even taking each otehr to court...... He was shocked that no one in the church was mature enough to resolve the conflict peaceably... 'I'll put it as urgently as I can: You must love each other.' [1 Corinthians 1:10]"

"...Peacemaking is not avoiding conflict. Running from a problem, pretending it doesn't exist, or being afread to talk about it is actually cowardice. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, was never afraid of conflict. On occasion, he provoked it for the good of everyone. Sometimes we need to avoid conflict, sometimes we need to create it, and sometimes we need to resolve it. That's why we must pray for the Holy Spirit's continual guidance."

"Peacemaking is also not appeasement. Always giving in, acting like a doormat, and allowing others to always run over you is not what Jesus had in mind. He refuse to back down on many issues, standing his ground in the face of evil opposition."

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more later...