What is Your Savior Lacking?

Benj and I started a Bible Study together this week, studying some classic sermons and the texts that inspired them. This week we read a portion of "The Excellency of Christ," preached by Jonathan Edwards in 1746. The accompanying text was Colossians 1:15-23.

We found ourselves in awe of, and gleefully stumbling over and discussing, the same passage:

"What is there that you can desire should be in a Savior, that is not in Christ? Or, wherein should you desire a Savior should be otherwise than Christ is? What excellency is there wanting? What is there that is great or good? What is there that is venerable or winning? What is there that is adorable or endearing? Or, what can you think of, that would be encouragining, that is not to be found in the person of Christ?"

and later, "What is there wanting, or what would you add if you could, to make him more fit to be your Savior?"

I've been thinking about it ever since. Everything I need my Savior to be - Christ is or has been. Holy? Check. Human? Check. Loving? Check. Near to God? Check.

Check. Check. Check. Check. Check.

What a joyful comfort to my soul that my Savior is so incredibly and completely everything I need.

All About Books

Sandi Glahn, Benji’s “writin’ mama” and ultra-cool DTS prof tagged me on her blog about books. Here’s my response:

1. One book that changed your life: Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. I read it my sophomore year of college after taking what I call my “hiatus from God” – my freshman year. I freakin’ love that Quaker.

2. One book that you’ve read more than once: September by Rosamunde Pilcher.

3. One book you’d want on a desert island: The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. I mean, if something is going to tell you “get over it” that you’re on a desert island, this is the book.

4. One book that made you laugh: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris.

5. One book that made you cry: Marley and Me by John Grogan. I bawled like a baby when Marley died.

6. One book that you wish had been written: Using PMS to work FOR you, not AGAINST you. I mean, really.

7. One book that you wish had never been written: God is a Conservative. Ok, in its defense, I’ve actually not read it and hear that it is fairly objective, but still…I HATE that title!

8. One book you’re currently reading: Two, actually: Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott and A Million Little Pieces by James Frey.

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky. I’ve had it for two years now and shrink away from it each time I’m done with a book because it looks so daunting.

10. Now tag five people: I’m going to make it 3, also; Benj, Amber and Nicole!