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{t:"MANY",p:1,x:-629,y:45,w:48,h:15},
{t:" CHRISTIANS ",p:1,x:-513,y:45,w:110,h:15},
{t:"ACKNOWLEDGE that they love Jesus but are ",p:1,x:-169,y:45,w:344,h:15},
{t:"disillusioned about their spiritual condition. ",p:1,x:-354,y:68,w:316,h:15},
{t:"They come to Christ to drink from ",p:1,x:-103,y:68,w:251,h:15},
{t:"the well of his new life, yet they find that their thirst remains. Why has the ",p:1,x:-129,y:92,w:541,h:15},
{t:"Christian life not met their expectations for spiritual growth, and how can they ",p:1,x:-98,y:115,w:572,h:15},
{t:"satisfy this craving for their Christian walk to have a deeper impact?",p:1,x:-177,y:138,w:498,h:15},
{t:"For far too long we have been presented with a version of the Christian faith ",p:1,x:-107,y:185,w:564,h:15},
{t:"that majors on what we get rather than on what we give. ",p:1,x:-253,y:208,w:417,h:15},
{t:"The cross has been ",p:1,x:-102,y:208,w:151,h:15},
{t:"portrayed as the place where Jesus died for us, and where we receive from ",p:1,x:-111,y:232,w:559,h:15},
{t:"him, but rarely as the location of our joint crucifixion with him. ",p:1,x:-217,y:255,w:453,h:15},
{t:"The ",p:1,x:-184,y:255,w:33,h:15},
{t:"uncomfortable truth is that Jesus calls us to share his cross. “If anyone would ",p:1,x:-98,y:278,w:572,h:15},
{t:"come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” ",p:1,x:-118,y:302,w:552,h:15},
{t:"(Matthew 16:24).",p:1,x:-546,y:325,w:125,h:15},
{t:"Fortunately",p:1,x:-591,y:372,w:83,h:15},
{t:", we don’t have to be some kind of “super Christian” to allow ",p:1,x:-142,y:372,w:446,h:15},
{t:"God’",p:1,x:-635,y:395,w:35,h:15},
{t:"s power to work through us. Calver shows how a number of ordinary ",p:1,x:-128,y:395,w:507,h:15},
{t:"believers have discovered the paradoxical fulfillment of the crucified life as ",p:1,x:-120,y:418,w:551,h:15},
{t:"they die to self and serve God and other people. By “dying to live,” you too ",p:1,x:-119,y:442,w:552,h:15},
{t:"can know the joy of the resurrection.",p:1,x:-403,y:465,w:267,h:15},
{t:"www",p:1,x:-652,y:967,w:21,h:9},
{t:".authenticbooks.com",p:1,x:-557,y:967,w:91,h:9},
{t:"“W",p:1,x:-643,y:520,w:21,h:13},
{t:"ith wisdom and compassion, Clive strips of",p:1,x:-325,y:520,w:308,h:13},
{t:"f the layers of ‘lacquer' that ",p:1,x:-126,y:520,w:198,h:13},
{t:"have obscured the rough wood of the cross and rendered it safe from the ",p:1,x:-127,y:543,w:526,h:13},
{t:"splinters that might pierce our comfort-loving flesh or disturb our religious ",p:1,x:-117,y:567,w:537,h:13},
{t:"consumerism. If you too are searching for the real thing, read on.”",p:1,x:-186,y:590,w:471,h:13},
{t:"—GRAHAM KENDRICK",p:1,x:-512,y:626,w:147,h:12},
{t:", ",p:1,x:-503,y:624,w:8,h:15},
{t:"International worship leader",p:1,x:-355,y:628,w:143,h:10},
{t:", speaker",p:1,x:-307,y:628,w:47,h:10},
{t:", and performer",p:1,x:-228,y:628,w:79,h:10},
{t:"DR. CLIVE CAL",p:1,x:-579,y:684,w:94,h:12},
{t:"VER is the senior pastor of W",p:1,x:-413,y:684,w:174,h:12},
{t:"alnut Hill Community Church, Bethel, CT",p:1,x:-174,y:684,w:239,h:12},
{t:". Previously",p:1,x:-106,y:684,w:68,h:12},
{t:", ",p:1,x:-97,y:684,w:7,h:12},
{t:"he was president of W",p:1,x:-548,y:704,w:131,h:12},
{t:"orld Relief for seven years, where he traveled the globe, ministering to the ",p:1,x:-108,y:704,w:439,h:12},
{t:"poor and empowering the church to work together to change the world for Jesus Christ. Calver ",p:1,x:-118,y:724,w:560,h:12},
{t:"also led and was a major spokesperson for the Evangelical ",p:1,x:-323,y:744,w:351,h:12},
{t:"Alliance of the United Kingdom. It was ",p:1,x:-100,y:744,w:228,h:12},
{t:"during that time that Calver and his commentaries on current issues were a mainstay on the BBC. ",p:1,x:-99,y:764,w:579,h:12},
{t:"He has also appeared on ",p:1,x:-518,y:784,w:152,h:12},
{t:"ABC’",p:1,x:-488,y:784,w:30,h:12},
{t:"s Nightline, CNN, and National Public Radio. He has authored ",p:1,x:-127,y:784,w:369,h:12},
{t:"twenty books and has been published in many national and local print media.",p:1,x:-222,y:804,w:454,h:12},
{t:"Spiritual Formation",p:1,x:-101,y:852,w:83,h:9},
{t:"",p:1,x:-243,y:956,w:9,h:13},
{t:"",p:1,x:-225,y:956,w:51,h:13},
{t:"",p:1,x:-168,y:956,w:51,h:13},
{t:"ISBN 978-1-934068-80-9",p:1,x:-120,y:880,w:119,h:9},
{t:"C",p:1,x:-766,y:421,w:3,h:4},
{t:"M",p:1,x:-766,y:446,w:3,h:4},
{t:"Y",p:1,x:-766,y:471,w:3,h:4},
{t:"CM",p:1,x:-764,y:496,w:7,h:4},
{t:"MY",p:1,x:-764,y:521,w:7,h:4},
{t:"CY",p:1,x:-764,y:546,w:7,h:4},
{t:"CMY",p:1,x:-763,y:571,w:10,h:4},
{t:"K",p:1,x:-766,y:596,w:3,h:4},
{t:"Dying to live16_2_09_PRESS.pdf   2/16/09   4:36:39 PM",p:1,x:-336,y:-61,w:318,h:7},
{t:"In a world where the message of Jesus can be dumbed ",p:2,x:105,y:138,w:433,h:26},
{t:"down into being just another feel-good consumer ",p:2,x:105,y:165,w:392,h:26},
{t:"product, Clive Calver calls us back to the fabulous ",p:2,x:105,y:191,w:400,h:26},
{t:"upheaval and daily revolution that is the cross-centered ",p:2,x:105,y:218,w:446,h:26},
{t:"life. Timely and incisive, yet warm and kind, Calver ",p:2,x:105,y:245,w:402,h:26},
{t:"charms rather than chides. But make no mistake: this is ",p:2,x:105,y:271,w:446,h:26},
{t:"nothing less than life-changing.",p:2,x:105,y:298,w:248,h:26},
{t:"Jeff Lucas",p:2,x:135,y:352,w:75,h:26},
{t:"Author, Speaker, Broadcaster",p:2,x:135,y:383,w:167,h:20},
{t:"In his new book, Dying to Live, Clive Calver brings the ",p:2,x:105,y:445,w:424,h:26},
{t:"reality of his life experience in dynamic fashion backed ",p:2,x:105,y:471,w:441,h:26},
{t:"up with powerful, biblical exposition and application. ",p:2,x:105,y:498,w:418,h:26},
{t:"He invites you to a closer relationship, seeking God for ",p:2,x:105,y:525,w:435,h:26},
{t:"yourself, and God alone. You will be challenged with the ",p:2,x:105,y:551,w:442,h:26},
{t:"centrality of the message of the cross and bringing all ",p:2,x:105,y:578,w:431,h:26},
{t:"of life in line with the gospel. The fullness of Christ’s ",p:2,x:105,y:605,w:415,h:26},
{t:"work as Savior and Lord leads you to be a risk-taker and ",p:2,x:105,y:631,w:449,h:26},
{t:"provides a practical challenge for life transformation as ",p:2,x:105,y:658,w:447,h:26},
{t:"you die to live so that you will never die.",p:2,x:105,y:685,w:315,h:26},
{t:"David M. Midwood",p:2,x:135,y:738,w:137,h:26},
{t:"President ",p:2,x:135,y:770,w:58,h:20},
{t:"Vision New England",p:2,x:135,y:790,w:114,h:20},
{t:"I have known Clive since my student days, and we’ve ",p:3,x:105,y:145,w:418,h:26},
{t:"traveled countless miles and stood on numerous ",p:3,x:105,y:171,w:386,h:26},
{t:"platforms together. I’ve watched the path he has taken ",p:3,x:105,y:198,w:436,h:26},
{t:"and shared in many of his joys and sorrows, as he has in ",p:3,x:105,y:225,w:447,h:26},
{t:"mine. I can assure you that this is not just another book, ",p:3,x:105,y:251,w:448,h:26},
{t:"but the record of a quest for authentic Christianity. ",p:3,x:105,y:278,w:406,h:26},
{t:"With wisdom and compassion, Clive strips off the layers ",p:3,x:105,y:331,w:442,h:26},
{t:"of “lacquer” that have obscured the rough wood of the ",p:3,x:105,y:358,w:437,h:26},
{t:"cross and rendered it safe from the splinters that might ",p:3,x:105,y:385,w:443,h:26},
{t:"pierce our comfort-loving fesh or disturb our religious ",p:3,x:105,y:411,w:436,h:26},
{t:"consumerism. If you too are searching for the real thing, ",p:3,x:105,y:438,w:452,h:26},
{t:"read on.",p:3,x:105,y:465,w:64,h:26},
{t:"Graham Kendrick",p:3,x:135,y:518,w:129,h:26},
{t:"International worship leader, speaker, and performer",p:3,x:135,y:550,w:304,h:20},
{t:"One of the founders and the songwriter behind the global phenomenon ",p:3,x:135,y:570,w:413,h:20},
{t:"  March for Jesus",p:3,x:135,y:589,w:102,h:20},
{t:"The examples of everyday men and women throughout ",p:4,x:105,y:145,w:431,h:26},
{t:"this book help the reader to realize that a follower of ",p:4,x:105,y:171,w:422,h:26},
{t:"Christ who has died to himself will be a life-giver not ",p:4,x:105,y:198,w:418,h:26},
{t:"only to the spiritually needy community in North America ",p:4,x:105,y:225,w:451,h:26},
{t:"but also to those whose lives and hopes have been ",p:4,x:105,y:251,w:401,h:26},
{t:"devastated by imposed poverty or by natural or man-",p:4,x:105,y:278,w:417,h:26},
{t:"made disasters such as genocides and ethnic cleansing ",p:4,x:105,y:305,w:443,h:26},
{t:"in many countries where Dr. Calver has followed ",p:4,x:105,y:331,w:383,h:26},
{t:"Christ. Dying to Live is an inspiration showing how a ",p:4,x:105,y:358,w:411,h:26},
{t:"surrendered and Christ-centered life results in changed ",p:4,x:105,y:385,w:446,h:26},
{t:"lives for eternity. ",p:4,x:105,y:411,w:138,h:26},
{t:"Celestin Musekura",p:4,x:135,y:465,w:139,h:26},
{t:"President and CEO",p:4,x:135,y:496,w:108,h:20},
{t:"African Leadership And Reconciliation Ministries, Inc.",p:4,x:135,y:516,w:310,h:20},
{t:"DYING",p:5,x:130,y:296,w:189,h:130},
{t:"TO LIVE",p:5,x:341,y:296,w:187,h:130},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:6,x:156,y:236,w:346,h:99},
{t:"THE P",p:6,x:158,y:344,w:40,h:28},
{t:"ARADOX OF THE CRUCIFIED LIFE",p:6,x:210,y:344,w:223,h:28},
{t:"Clive Calver",p:6,x:227,y:445,w:171,h:42},
{t:"Authentic Publishing",p:7,x:105,y:325,w:109,h:16},
{t:"We welcome your questions and comments.",p:7,x:105,y:341,w:226,h:16},
{t:"USA ",p:7,x:105,y:373,w:28,h:16},
{t:"1820 Jet Stream Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921   ",p:7,x:165,y:373,w:284,h:16},
{t:"www.authenticbooks.com",p:7,x:165,y:389,w:133,h:16},
{t:"UK ",p:7,x:105,y:405,w:22,h:16},
{t:"9 Holdom Avenue, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK1 1QR   ",p:7,x:165,y:405,w:341,h:16},
{t:"www.authenticmedia.co.uk",p:7,x:165,y:421,w:139,h:16},
{t:"India",p:7,x:105,y:437,w:26,h:16},
{t:"Logos Bhavan, Medchal Road, Jeedimetla Village, Secunderabad ",p:7,x:165,y:437,w:334,h:16},
{t:"500 055, A.P .",p:7,x:165,y:453,w:69,h:16},
{t:"Dying to Live",p:7,x:105,y:549,w:71,h:16},
{t:"ISBN: 978-1-934068-68-7",p:7,x:105,y:565,w:139,h:16},
{t:"Copyright © 2009 by Clive Calver",p:7,x:105,y:597,w:179,h:16},
{t:"11 10 09 / 6 5 4 3 2 1",p:7,x:105,y:629,w:114,h:16},
{t:"Published in 2009 by Authentic",p:7,x:105,y:661,w:164,h:16},
{t:"All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without ",p:7,x:105,y:677,w:417,h:16},
{t:"permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations ",p:7,x:105,y:693,w:406,h:16},
{t:"embodied in critical articles or reviews. ",p:7,x:105,y:709,w:203,h:16},
{t:"All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, ",p:7,x:105,y:741,w:427,h:16},
{t:"New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International ",p:7,x:105,y:757,w:427,h:16},
{t:"Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.",p:7,x:105,y:773,w:349,h:16},
{t:"A catalog record for this book is available through the Library of Congress.",p:7,x:105,y:806,w:431,h:19},
{t:"Cover and interior design: projectluz.com",p:7,x:105,y:839,w:214,h:16},
{t:"Editorial team: Andy Sloan, Michaela Dodd, Dana Bromley",p:7,x:105,y:855,w:309,h:16},
{t:"Printed in the United States of America",p:7,x:105,y:887,w:203,h:16},
{t:"Dedication",p:8,x:105,y:292,w:197,h:69},
{t:"Tere are four small groups of people with whom I pray:",p:8,x:105,y:386,w:399,h:23},
{t:"Te “Elms”—leaders and learners in our community",p:8,x:134,y:440,w:371,h:23},
{t:"Te “Bulldogs”—those of unique determination to keep ",p:8,x:134,y:494,w:401,h:23},
{t:"going with me",p:8,x:134,y:520,w:102,h:23},
{t:"Te “Elders”—those who share authority and account-",p:8,x:134,y:574,w:386,h:23},
{t:"ability within the local church, even at 6 am!",p:8,x:134,y:600,w:314,h:23},
{t:"Te “Blokes”—those shaping each other, together, for ",p:8,x:134,y:654,w:383,h:23},
{t:"twenty-seven years",p:8,x:134,y:680,w:131,h:23},
{t:"To each I am deeply grateful and dedicate this book as a ",p:8,x:134,y:735,w:426,h:23},
{t:"statement of a shared desire: to teach each other what it means ",p:8,x:105,y:763,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to live a more crucifed life.",p:8,x:105,y:790,w:193,h:23},
{t:"Table of Contents",p:9,x:105,y:142,w:330,h:69},
{t:"FOREWORD ",p:9,x:105,y:252,w:91,h:19},
{t:"xiii",p:9,x:537,y:252,w:18,h:19},
{t:"THANK YOU",p:9,x:105,y:289,w:89,h:19},
{t:"xvii",p:9,x:534,y:289,w:20,h:19},
{t:"CHAPTER ONE ",p:9,x:105,y:327,w:110,h:19},
{t:"1",p:9,x:547,y:327,w:7,h:19},
{t:"Hungry: Te Disappointed Christian",p:9,x:135,y:351,w:263,h:23},
{t:"CHAPTER TWO ",p:9,x:105,y:392,w:113,h:19},
{t:"15",p:9,x:540,y:392,w:15,h:19},
{t:"Crucifed: Te Crucifed Life",p:9,x:135,y:416,w:205,h:23},
{t:"CHAPTER THREE ",p:9,x:105,y:457,w:126,h:19},
{t:"27",p:9,x:540,y:457,w:15,h:19},
{t:"Surrender: Te Art of Starting Over",p:9,x:135,y:481,w:252,h:23},
{t:"CHAPTER FOUR ",p:9,x:105,y:522,w:119,h:19},
{t:"39",p:9,x:540,y:522,w:15,h:19},
{t:"Disciple: Sold Out",p:9,x:135,y:546,w:132,h:23},
{t:"CHAPTER FIVE ",p:9,x:105,y:587,w:110,h:19},
{t:"53",p:9,x:540,y:587,w:15,h:19},
{t:"Sacrifce: Die First!",p:9,x:135,y:611,w:133,h:23},
{t:"CHAPTER SIX ",p:9,x:105,y:652,w:99,h:19},
{t:"65",p:9,x:540,y:652,w:15,h:19},
{t:"Giving: Te “Me” Syndrome",p:9,x:135,y:676,w:203,h:23},
{t:"CHAPTER SEVEN ",p:9,x:105,y:717,w:124,h:19},
{t:"75",p:9,x:540,y:717,w:15,h:19},
{t:"Exchange: A Royal Transfer",p:9,x:135,y:741,w:194,h:23},
{t:"CHAPTER EIGHT ",p:9,x:105,y:782,w:125,h:19},
{t:"87",p:9,x:540,y:782,w:15,h:19},
{t:"Dying: Living on the Far Side of the Cross",p:9,x:135,y:806,w:300,h:23},
{t:"CHAPTER NINE ",p:9,x:105,y:847,w:115,h:19},
{t:"99",p:9,x:540,y:847,w:15,h:19},
{t:"Broken: Warning—Breakages Must Be Replaced ",p:9,x:135,y:875,w:346,h:23},
{t:"CHAPTER TEN ",p:10,x:105,y:117,w:107,h:19},
{t:"111",p:10,x:532,y:117,w:22,h:19},
{t:"Spirit-Filled: Scared of the Spirit? ",p:10,x:135,y:141,w:239,h:23},
{t:"CHAPTER ELEVEN ",p:10,x:105,y:182,w:134,h:19},
{t:"129",p:10,x:532,y:182,w:22,h:19},
{t:"Fruit: For His Glory ",p:10,x:135,y:206,w:148,h:23},
{t:"CHAPTER TWELVE ",p:10,x:105,y:247,w:136,h:19},
{t:"141",p:10,x:532,y:247,w:22,h:19},
{t:"Destiny: Don ’t Waste Your Life ",p:10,x:135,y:271,w:224,h:23},
{t:"xiii",p:11,x:537,y:935,w:14,h:19},
{t:"Foreword",p:11,x:105,y:292,w:183,h:69},
{t:"In the frst years of our ministry, Becky and I lived in a ",p:11,x:135,y:386,w:427,h:23},
{t:"parsonage (a house supplied by the church). It was very small ",p:11,x:105,y:414,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and very leaky. But we were so thrilled to be married and to have ",p:11,x:105,y:441,w:453,h:23},
{t:"someplace to live that we didn ’t notice those little imperfections. ",p:11,x:105,y:469,w:454,h:23},
{t:"I earned only a few thousand dollars a year, so we thought this ",p:11,x:105,y:496,w:455,h:23},
{t:"house was a palace! It even had a garbage disposal. How rich we ",p:11,x:105,y:524,w:454,h:23},
{t:"felt having a machine in our sink that would grind up all the ",p:11,x:105,y:551,w:456,h:23},
{t:"garbage and make it go away!",p:11,x:105,y:579,w:207,h:23},
{t:"One day the garbage disposal stopped working. Te garbage ",p:11,x:135,y:606,w:424,h:23},
{t:"started decaying, and life was getting smelly. We did not think ",p:11,x:105,y:634,w:455,h:23},
{t:"we could aford a licensed plumber to fx the problem. So I ",p:11,x:105,y:661,w:457,h:23},
{t:"tried everything I knew to “unstick” the disposal. But I am not ",p:11,x:105,y:689,w:455,h:23},
{t:"mechanically inclined (that is an understatement), and nothing ",p:11,x:105,y:716,w:455,h:23},
{t:"was working. Life became quite unpleasant with the odor of ",p:11,x:105,y:744,w:457,h:23},
{t:"what was in the disposal and with the work of “taking out the ",p:11,x:105,y:771,w:455,h:23},
{t:"garbage” of daily. Finally, we didn ’t care what it cost; we had to ",p:11,x:105,y:799,w:455,h:23},
{t:"call for trained help. ",p:11,x:105,y:826,w:147,h:23},
{t:"Te plumber came to our house, went straight to the ",p:11,x:135,y:854,w:429,h:23},
{t:"kitchen, looked under the sink at the disposal motor, hit a red ",p:11,x:105,y:881,w:455,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:12,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"xiv",p:12,x:105,y:935,w:15,h:19},
{t:"button that read “reset,” fipped on the switch above the sink, ",p:12,x:105,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and the powerful garbage disposal worked as good as new! He ",p:12,x:105,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"then looked at me and said, “Tat will be ffty dollars.”",p:12,x:105,y:171,w:387,h:23},
{t:"It was an expensive lesson that has never left me. Since that ",p:12,x:134,y:198,w:424,h:23},
{t:"time, the frst thing I look for in anything that is not working is ",p:12,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"a “reset” button. ",p:12,x:105,y:253,w:119,h:23},
{t:"Tis book is one giant reset button for the most important ",p:12,x:134,y:281,w:425,h:23},
{t:"area of your life. ",p:12,x:105,y:308,w:119,h:23},
{t:"Most of us frst trust Christ because we fnally realize that ",p:12,x:134,y:336,w:426,h:23},
{t:"we need God to do for us, and in us, and through us what we ",p:12,x:105,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"cannot do on our own. And so there is a great deal of relief, even ",p:12,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"exhilaration, when we trust that Christ has paid for our sins and ",p:12,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"we invite the Christ who made the universe to fll us with his life!",p:12,x:105,y:446,w:449,h:23},
{t:"But then something happens that indicates our live is again ",p:12,x:134,y:473,w:424,h:23},
{t:"not working so well. So we take over and try to fx what we know ",p:12,x:105,y:501,w:453,h:23},
{t:"nothing about, and life gets flled with the very garbage God had ",p:12,x:105,y:528,w:453,h:23},
{t:"taken away.",p:12,x:105,y:556,w:81,h:23},
{t:"Clive Calver is about to remind us of something we have ",p:12,x:134,y:583,w:426,h:23},
{t:"the power to do: hit the “reset” button. Re-depend on Christ. ",p:12,x:105,y:611,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Re-focus on him and his life in us. His power will be re-engaged. ",p:12,x:105,y:638,w:453,h:23},
{t:"And it’s free (as well as freeing)!",p:12,x:105,y:666,w:221,h:23},
{t:"Dr. Calver is just the right one to take us on this journey ",p:12,x:134,y:693,w:426,h:23},
{t:"back to the original and powerful Way, Truth, and Life. He has ",p:12,x:105,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"led great ministry organizations, such as World Relief, which ",p:12,x:105,y:748,w:457,h:23},
{t:"cares for the most destitute. He has written many books of ",p:12,x:105,y:776,w:458,h:23},
{t:"spiritual insight. He is pastoring a church in which he shepherds ",p:12,x:105,y:803,w:454,h:23},
{t:"people’s souls. Tese qualifcations might ft our need: we are ",p:12,x:105,y:831,w:456,h:23},
{t:"xv",p:13,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"FORE WORD",p:13,x:486,y:64,w:65,h:21},
{t:"desperate people looking for spiritual insight that will lead us to ",p:13,x:104,y:116,w:454,h:23},
{t:"God’s care.",p:13,x:104,y:143,w:77,h:23},
{t:"Remember as you read this book that it speaks to a very ",p:13,x:134,y:171,w:427,h:23},
{t:"personal journey. Clive does not write as an academic, but as ",p:13,x:104,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"one who is as needy as we are. Ultimately, the Christian life is ",p:13,x:104,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"not about what is or is not working; it is rather about who we ",p:13,x:104,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"really are in Christ, and who he is in us. Te Christian life is ",p:13,x:104,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"not mechanical; it is personal. And the life God has for us is not ",p:13,x:104,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"about being good, it is about being loved.",p:13,x:104,y:336,w:293,h:23},
{t:"I will be reading this book with you. It seems that I need ",p:13,x:134,y:363,w:426,h:23},
{t:"the “reset” button quite often too. May the person and power of ",p:13,x:104,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"God fll our lives and clear away the garbage.",p:13,x:104,y:418,w:316,h:23},
{t:"Joel C. Hunter, D. Min.",p:13,x:390,y:473,w:164,h:23},
{t:"Senior Pastor, Northland—A Church Distributed",p:13,x:235,y:500,w:319,h:21},
{t:"xvii",p:14,x:534,y:935,w:18,h:19},
{t:"Thank Y",p:14,x:105,y:292,w:145,h:69},
{t:"ou",p:14,x:278,y:292,w:45,h:69},
{t:"Eucharizomai is the Greek word for “thankful.”",p:14,x:135,y:386,w:331,h:23},
{t:"Today is Tanksgiving Day and therefore very appropriate. ",p:14,x:135,y:414,w:425,h:23},
{t:"No book can be a “solo” efort, and this one certainly is not.",p:14,x:105,y:441,w:423,h:23},
{t:"Charizomai means “to give” and eu means “good”; so to-",p:14,x:135,y:469,w:419,h:23},
{t:"gether they mean “to give good,” “to show kindness,” or “a good ",p:14,x:105,y:496,w:454,h:23},
{t:"gift.” On this Tanksgiving I want to acknowledge those who ",p:14,x:105,y:524,w:456,h:23},
{t:"contributed their love and kindness in the hope that this book ",p:14,x:105,y:551,w:455,h:23},
{t:"would result as “a good gift.”",p:14,x:105,y:579,w:202,h:23},
{t:"So I express gratitude to Alison and the Authentic team ",p:14,x:135,y:606,w:427,h:23},
{t:"in the U.K. who began the process and to Volney, Dana, and ",p:14,x:105,y:634,w:456,h:23},
{t:"the U.S. Authentic Publishing Group who kept going with ",p:14,x:105,y:661,w:458,h:23},
{t:"me through the good times and the not so good. Volney, your ",p:14,x:105,y:689,w:455,h:23},
{t:"encouragement and commitment were stellar; I am so grateful.",p:14,x:105,y:716,w:443,h:23},
{t:"Serving a local church has given to Ruth and me so many ",p:14,x:135,y:744,w:425,h:23},
{t:"reasons for joy. One of the greatest is sharing life with so many ",p:14,x:105,y:771,w:455,h:23},
{t:"others. Tis was certainly true of the book. Matt Baumgartner ",p:14,x:105,y:799,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and Jamie Marshall researched the “Parabolani.” Donna Budd, ",p:14,x:105,y:826,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Bev Carr, Marguerite Enslin, Dr. Jey Jeyapalan, Laura Kennedy, ",p:14,x:105,y:854,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and Rich Rardin comprised the prayer team.",p:14,x:105,y:881,w:314,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:15,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"xviii",p:15,x:105,y:935,w:21,h:19},
{t:"Critical reading and initial corrections were provided by ",p:15,x:135,y:116,w:428,h:23},
{t:"Lori Angel, Gary Arnone, Bev Carr, John Coyne, Paul DiMarco, ",p:15,x:105,y:143,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Charles Galda Jr., Paul Hine, Dr. Jey Jeyapalan, Barbara Nelson, ",p:15,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Joy Norman, Jennifer Ober, Karen Petersen, Bob Pious, Deb ",p:15,x:105,y:198,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Priolo, Melissa Shaw, Steve Tanenbaum, and Joann Wright. I did ",p:15,x:105,y:226,w:453,h:23},
{t:"not always agree with the corrections, so I cannot thank them ",p:15,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"enough for all the ways they made me reexamine the text.",p:15,x:105,y:281,w:406,h:23},
{t:"Ten to Trish Roccuzzo and my assistant, Leslie Goodwin, ",p:15,x:135,y:308,w:425,h:23},
{t:"who typed, reshaped, retyped, and corrected all the corrections. ",p:15,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"To Bev Carr and Anna Mae Sholtes who tried to shape, adopt ",p:15,x:105,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and move the material to a more coherent whole. To these I give ",p:15,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"my deep appreciation.",p:15,x:105,y:418,w:156,h:23},
{t:"Ten there are those who gave great practical support. Much ",p:15,x:135,y:446,w:423,h:23},
{t:"of the book was written in the Dominican Republic; and Anja, ",p:15,x:105,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"with the staf at Lifestyle Holidays, did a great job encouraging ",p:15,x:105,y:501,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and supporting me with help in many ways. And of course to ",p:15,x:105,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Señor Alessandro, “Sandy,” goes my thanks for cup after cup of ",p:15,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"cofee and for his attentiveness through early mornings of writ-",p:15,x:105,y:583,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ing in the balcony restaurant overlooking the sea.",p:15,x:105,y:611,w:347,h:23},
{t:"But . . . to my darling Ruth and to my colleagues on staf ",p:15,x:135,y:638,w:422,h:23},
{t:"goes my gratitude for just “living with me” through the process. ",p:15,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"And I give thanks to the Lord who birthed a desire in me so ",p:15,x:105,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"many years ago—one that is refected in these pages.",p:15,x:105,y:721,w:370,h:23},
{t:"Finally, to Andy Sloan, the editor Authentic provided. I ",p:15,x:135,y:748,w:428,h:23},
{t:"cannot thank you enough, Andy, for the tireless support and ",p:15,x:105,y:776,w:457,h:23},
{t:"incredible abilities God has given you. Without you, I don ’t ",p:15,x:105,y:803,w:457,h:23},
{t:"think this could have happened.",p:15,x:105,y:831,w:227,h:23},
{t:"xix",p:16,x:537,y:935,w:15,h:19},
{t:"THAN K Y OU",p:16,x:485,y:64,w:68,h:21},
{t:"Te fnal word of thanks goes to Clay Norman, the chairman ",p:16,x:135,y:116,w:423,h:23},
{t:"of the Elder Board and my friend, who coordinated, encouraged, ",p:16,x:105,y:143,w:453,h:23},
{t:"prayed, and believed in this.",p:16,x:105,y:171,w:198,h:23},
{t:"To you all, one word: eucharizomai.",p:16,x:135,y:198,w:251,h:23},
{t:"1",p:17,x:550,y:935,w:4,h:19},
{t:"CHAPTER ONE",p:17,x:105,y:240,w:56,h:14},
{t:"Hungry",p:17,x:105,y:292,w:133,h:69},
{t:"THE DISAPPOINTED CHRISTIAN",p:17,x:172,y:380,w:254,h:34},
{t:"Do you remember your excitement as a child when ",p:17,x:165,y:489,w:396,h:69},
{t:"you crawled into bed Christmas Eve and wondered ",p:17,x:191,y:529,w:368,h:23},
{t:"what the morning would bring? Over and over you imagined ",p:17,x:104,y:556,w:456,h:23},
{t:"what it would feel like to unwrap that special gift! You could see ",p:17,x:104,y:584,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the colors, you could feel the texture—it would fnally be yours. ",p:17,x:104,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Months of hints and suggestions would bring delight. Te wait-",p:17,x:104,y:639,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ing was nearly complete; Christmas morning was almost here!",p:17,x:104,y:666,w:436,h:23},
{t:"When you ran down the stairs and looked under the tree, ",p:17,x:134,y:694,w:425,h:23},
{t:"you saw that special gift, which made you giggle as you danced ",p:17,x:104,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"around the tree. But perhaps it wasn ’t there, and you experienced ",p:17,x:104,y:749,w:453,h:23},
{t:"disappointment when you expected joy. Your parents knew your ",p:17,x:104,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"hope but made a diferent choice based on their understanding—",p:17,x:104,y:804,w:449,h:23},
{t:"even though it was painful. A playful puppy might replace the ",p:17,x:104,y:831,w:455,h:23},
{t:"dream of a pony, or a special dress might appear instead of the ",p:17,x:104,y:859,w:455,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:18,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"2",p:18,x:105,y:935,w:6,h:19},
{t:"hoped-for playhouse. Perhaps a bicycle was leaning against the ",p:18,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"wall instead of a Nintendo. ",p:18,x:105,y:143,w:196,h:23},
{t:"Do you remember when your dreams didn ’t match what ",p:18,x:134,y:171,w:427,h:23},
{t:"you received? ",p:18,x:105,y:198,w:98,h:23},
{t:"When I was a child I begged to go away to boarding school. ",p:18,x:134,y:226,w:424,h:23},
{t:"My parents were kind and loving in trying to dissuade me from ",p:18,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"this desire, but the books I read painted it as a life of fun and ",p:18,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"excitement. I was warned that there was a gap between my ",p:18,x:105,y:308,w:458,h:23},
{t:"mental image and the truth, but I felt I knew best. I should have ",p:18,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"listened. Boarding school failed to match my expectations and ",p:18,x:105,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"became a tremendous disappointment compared to what I had ",p:18,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"envisioned.",p:18,x:105,y:418,w:79,h:23},
{t:"We often construct our own picture of what life should be ",p:18,x:134,y:446,w:425,h:23},
{t:"and how it should turn out. We try to shape the path ahead. ",p:18,x:105,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Sometimes our vision is fulflled. But sometimes life doesn ’t turn ",p:18,x:105,y:501,w:453,h:23},
{t:"out the way we hoped, and we may not know why.",p:18,x:105,y:528,w:359,h:23},
{t:"Hungry for M ore",p:18,x:232,y:579,w:194,h:30},
{t:"A young man met with me to discuss his spiritual life. He ",p:18,x:135,y:620,w:425,h:23},
{t:"began by sharing about the failure of the local church to meet ",p:18,x:105,y:648,w:456,h:23},
{t:"his needs. As we talked further, he revealed more of his heart’s ",p:18,x:105,y:675,w:455,h:23},
{t:"longing. “Surely there is more to this whole Christian thing!” He ",p:18,x:105,y:703,w:453,h:23},
{t:"had recognized a basic tenet of the Christian life: it’s not enough ",p:18,x:105,y:730,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to live the same life as before we met Jesus, with Bible-reading, ",p:18,x:105,y:758,w:455,h:23},
{t:"church, and praying added on. ",p:18,x:105,y:785,w:221,h:23},
{t:"At least once a month I talk to people who love Jesus but ",p:18,x:135,y:813,w:426,h:23},
{t:"are disillusioned about their spiritual condition. Tey come to ",p:18,x:105,y:840,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Christ to drink from the well of new life, yet their thirst remains. ",p:18,x:105,y:868,w:453,h:23},
{t:"3",p:19,x:548,y:935,w:6,h:19},
{t:"HUNGRY",p:19,x:506,y:64,w:43,h:21},
{t:"Tis isn ’t what they expected, and their disappointment is obvi-",p:19,x:105,y:116,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ous. Tey aren ’t rejecting what they were given, but they wonder, ",p:19,x:105,y:143,w:453,h:23},
{t:"“Is this all that’s available? Why didn ’t I get what I expected?”",p:19,x:105,y:171,w:432,h:23},
{t:"Some blame themselves for lacking commitment and ques-",p:19,x:135,y:198,w:419,h:23},
{t:"tion whether their faith is really genuine. Others experience ",p:19,x:105,y:226,w:458,h:23},
{t:"emptiness in their Christian life and wonder if that is normal. ",p:19,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Some see advances in their professional or family life, but they ",p:19,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"cannot understand why there seems to be so little progress in ",p:19,x:105,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"their spiritual life. Terms like “stagnant” and “standing still” ",p:19,x:105,y:336,w:458,h:23},
{t:"are used. Such awareness is uncomfortable. Why hasn ’t the ",p:19,x:105,y:363,w:459,h:23},
{t:"Christian life met their expectations for spiritual growth, and ",p:19,x:105,y:391,w:456,h:23},
{t:"how can they satisfy their craving for the Christian walk to have ",p:19,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"a deeper impact?",p:19,x:105,y:446,w:117,h:23},
{t:"Te nineteenth-century British novelist Charles Dickens ",p:19,x:135,y:473,w:430,h:23},
{t:"told the sad story of a young orphan boy named Oliver Twist. ",p:19,x:105,y:501,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Confned to the workhouse, Oliver is placed under the care of ",p:19,x:105,y:528,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Mr. Bumble, an authoritarian taskmaster . Because the children ",p:19,x:105,y:556,w:456,h:23},
{t:"are forced to work so hard and are fed so meagerly, they are ",p:19,x:105,y:583,w:457,h:23},
{t:"perpetually hungry. Finally the children can stand the hunger ",p:19,x:105,y:611,w:457,h:23},
{t:"no longer, and Oliver is selected to light the torch of revolt. He ",p:19,x:105,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"reluctantly approaches Mr. Bumble with his empty bowl to ask, ",p:19,x:105,y:666,w:456,h:23},
{t:"with childlike innocence, about the possibility of getting mor e. ",p:19,x:105,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Te mere request is enough to throw the workhouse staf into ",p:19,x:105,y:721,w:458,h:23},
{t:"panic. No one had ever possessed the courage to ask for mor e!",p:19,x:105,y:748,w:431,h:23},
{t:"Do you sometimes in your spiritual life feel as Oliver felt? ",p:19,x:135,y:776,w:425,h:23},
{t:"Do you want more from God? Are you hungry for a deeper ",p:19,x:105,y:803,w:457,h:23},
{t:"relationship with him? If so, please read on.",p:19,x:105,y:831,w:307,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:20,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"4",p:20,x:105,y:935,w:6,h:19},
{t:"Awakening",p:20,x:268,y:115,w:114,h:30},
{t:"Summer in England may be a brief season, but a walk on a ",p:20,x:135,y:156,w:425,h:23},
{t:"warm day in the wooded hills just outside London, as the sun ",p:20,x:105,y:183,w:455,h:23},
{t:"sinks on the horizon, can turn your thoughts toward heaven. ",p:20,x:105,y:211,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Many years ago, as a young preacher, I wandered on these hills ",p:20,x:105,y:238,w:455,h:23},
{t:"late one afternoon. Although I was refecting on heaven, my life ",p:20,x:105,y:266,w:454,h:23},
{t:"at the time felt more like hell on earth. It had taken me a long ",p:20,x:105,y:293,w:455,h:23},
{t:"time to become a Christian. Now, fve years later, even though I ",p:20,x:105,y:321,w:454,h:23},
{t:"had been ordained and was seeking to serve Jesus, it was proving ",p:20,x:105,y:348,w:454,h:23},
{t:"hard to remain a Christian. ",p:20,x:105,y:376,w:197,h:23},
{t:"I desperately wanted Jesus to make me into a diferent kind ",p:20,x:135,y:403,w:424,h:23},
{t:"of person. I knew where I wanted to go but felt impotent and ",p:20,x:105,y:431,w:455,h:23},
{t:"frustrated in my eforts to arrive there. I had been promised the ",p:20,x:105,y:458,w:454,h:23},
{t:"transforming power of Jesus, yet somehow it never materialized ",p:20,x:105,y:486,w:455,h:23},
{t:"enough for me to really become diferent. I understood only too ",p:20,x:105,y:513,w:454,h:23},
{t:"well the words of the apostle Paul, “What I want to do I do not ",p:20,x:105,y:541,w:454,h:23},
{t:"do, but what I hate I do. . . . I have the desire to do what is good, ",p:20,x:105,y:568,w:453,h:23},
{t:"but I cannot carry it out” (Romans 7:15, 18). Tis realization ",p:20,x:105,y:596,w:456,h:23},
{t:"was beginning to tear me apart.",p:20,x:105,y:623,w:222,h:23},
{t:"Frankly, my faith was head knowledge that had not really ",p:20,x:135,y:651,w:426,h:23},
{t:"connected with my heart. If it had, then I would not have been ",p:20,x:105,y:678,w:454,h:23},
{t:"so hungry for more.",p:20,x:105,y:706,w:141,h:23},
{t:"Desperately S",p:20,x:127,y:757,w:140,h:30},
{t:"eeking the R",p:20,x:283,y:757,w:128,h:30},
{t:"eal Thing",p:20,x:425,y:757,w:101,h:30},
{t:"Walking alone that summer afternoon, I was comforted to ",p:20,x:135,y:797,w:425,h:23},
{t:"remember that Jesus really is all he claimed to be. I found it ",p:20,x:105,y:825,w:457,h:23},
{t:"reassuring to rehearse the evidence of my faith. Yet this remained ",p:20,x:105,y:852,w:453,h:23},
{t:"just theory. Tere had to be more I could experience than I had ",p:20,x:105,y:880,w:455,h:23},
{t:"5",p:21,x:548,y:935,w:6,h:19},
{t:"HUNGRY",p:21,x:506,y:64,w:43,h:21},
{t:"discovered so far. I had tried diferent systems, programs, and ",p:21,x:105,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"ideas. I had searched the “higher Christian life,” the “basic ",p:21,x:105,y:143,w:458,h:23},
{t:"Christian life,” and much in between. Still this seemed to feed ",p:21,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"only my mind. I was tired of sermons and spiritual thoughts; ",p:21,x:105,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"I longed to know God and was not satisfed with secondhand ",p:21,x:105,y:226,w:456,h:23},
{t:"experience. ",p:21,x:105,y:253,w:83,h:23},
{t:"Ten it hit me between the eyes as I sat on a grassy knoll ",p:21,x:135,y:281,w:426,h:23},
{t:"reading a little book that had been recommended to me. ",p:21,x:105,y:308,w:460,h:23},
{t:"Majestic words of the twentieth-century Chicago pastor A. W. ",p:21,x:105,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Tozer came as a bolt from the blue: ",p:21,x:105,y:363,w:252,h:23},
{t:"In this hour of all but universal darkness one cheer-",p:21,x:135,y:398,w:390,h:23},
{t:"ing gleam appears: within the fold of conservative ",p:21,x:135,y:426,w:400,h:23},
{t:"Christianity there are to be found increasing numbers ",p:21,x:135,y:453,w:396,h:23},
{t:"of persons whose religious lives are marked by a growing ",p:21,x:135,y:481,w:393,h:23},
{t:"hunger after God himself. Tey are eager for spiritual ",p:21,x:135,y:508,w:396,h:23},
{t:"reality and will not be put of with words, nor will they ",p:21,x:135,y:536,w:394,h:23},
{t:"be content with correct “interpretations” of truth. Tey ",p:21,x:135,y:563,w:394,h:23},
{t:"are athirst for God, and they will not be satisfed till ",p:21,x:135,y:591,w:396,h:23},
{t:"they have drunk deep at the fountain of living water. ",p:21,x:135,y:618,w:396,h:23},
{t:"Tis is the only real harbinger of revival which I have ",p:21,x:135,y:646,w:396,h:23},
{t:"been able to detect anywhere on the religious horizon. ",p:21,x:135,y:673,w:395,h:23},
{t:"It may be the cloud the size of a man ’s hand for which ",p:21,x:135,y:701,w:395,h:23},
{t:"a few saints here and there have been looking. It can ",p:21,x:135,y:728,w:396,h:23},
{t:"result in a resurrection of life.1 ",p:21,x:135,y:756,w:217,h:23},
{t:"1.",p:21,x:105,y:866,w:11,h:19},
{t:" A. W. Tozer, Te Pursuit of God (Camp Hill, PA: Christian Publications, ",p:21,x:123,y:866,w:423,h:19},
{t:"Inc., 1982), 8.",p:21,x:104,y:886,w:83,h:19},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:22,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"6",p:22,x:105,y:935,w:6,h:19},
{t:"For the frst time, I recognized the truth. I was looking for ",p:22,x:135,y:116,w:425,h:23},
{t:"a resurrection in my Christian life. Te only problem was that ",p:22,x:105,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"I hadn ’t foreseen that resurrection is necessarily preceded by ",p:22,x:105,y:171,w:458,h:23},
{t:"crucifxion. Tere has to be a kind of death before one can be ",p:22,x:105,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"resurrected and enter into new life.",p:22,x:105,y:226,w:246,h:23},
{t:"Te truth was, all the time I had been looking in the wrong ",p:22,x:135,y:253,w:424,h:23},
{t:"direction. I had been searching for something new to add to my ",p:22,x:105,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"spiritual life, but God wanted to subtract my intrusive will and ",p:22,x:105,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"replace it with his will. Te prerequisite for God to work in my ",p:22,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"life and to renew it was that I willingly lay down my life. No ",p:22,x:105,y:363,w:456,h:23},
{t:"two individuals can be masters in a house at the same time. In ",p:22,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the same way, two competing priorities cannot be held by one ",p:22,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"person without creating spiritual schizophrenia. When God lives ",p:22,x:105,y:446,w:453,h:23},
{t:"his life in us there is no room for two independent spirits. One ",p:22,x:105,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"must submit to the other.",p:22,x:105,y:501,w:180,h:23},
{t:"As the wind rufed the grass around me, I knelt in humble ",p:22,x:135,y:528,w:424,h:23},
{t:"appreciation that Jesus did not come just to teach me how to ",p:22,x:105,y:556,w:456,h:23},
{t:"live—he wanted to show me how to live. He showed us how ",p:22,x:105,y:583,w:457,h:23},
{t:"to die and that death would come through a cross. Tere he ",p:22,x:105,y:611,w:457,h:23},
{t:"revealed the secret of the “crucifed life.”",p:22,x:105,y:638,w:282,h:23},
{t:"Life Begins at the C",p:22,x:195,y:689,w:200,h:30},
{t:"ross",p:22,x:421,y:689,w:41,h:30},
{t:"Tat day on the hill I learned that the Christian life does not ",p:22,x:135,y:730,w:423,h:23},
{t:"grow by acquisition from God, but rather by surrender to him. ",p:22,x:105,y:758,w:455,h:23},
{t:"I cannot receive all that he longs to give me until I frst make ",p:22,x:105,y:785,w:456,h:23},
{t:"room for him to work in my life. Resurrection follows cruci-",p:22,x:105,y:813,w:449,h:23},
{t:"fxion. It dawned on me that Jesus’ death on the cross achieved ",p:22,x:105,y:840,w:455,h:23},
{t:"two things: how to die, and how to live. Te cross didn ’t mark ",p:22,x:105,y:868,w:455,h:23},
{t:"7",p:23,x:549,y:935,w:5,h:19},
{t:"HUNGRY",p:23,x:506,y:64,w:43,h:21},
{t:"the end; instead, it marked a new beginning for all who would ",p:23,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"be introduced to a crucifed life. God desires our unqualifed ",p:23,x:105,y:143,w:457,h:23},
{t:"devotion. Crucifed love is his gift to us. Resurrected life with ",p:23,x:105,y:171,w:456,h:23},
{t:"God is his purpose. He requires that we, too, live a crucifed life.",p:23,x:105,y:198,w:450,h:23},
{t:"Such a life is surrendered—sacrifced to Jesus and broken ",p:23,x:135,y:226,w:426,h:23},
{t:"of self-will. It is dead to our own desires and lives for his glory ",p:23,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"rather than our own. Tat is the life of a disciple: our power ",p:23,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"exchanged for his, making us fulflled and fruitful. A crucifed ",p:23,x:105,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"life realizes the dreams and hopes laid before us in God’s Word ",p:23,x:105,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and energized by the Holy Spirit.",p:23,x:105,y:363,w:234,h:23},
{t:"Tis truth poses a major problem for many of us. For far too ",p:23,x:135,y:391,w:423,h:23},
{t:"long we have been presented with a version of the Christian faith ",p:23,x:105,y:418,w:453,h:23},
{t:"that majors on what we get rather than on what we give. Te ",p:23,x:105,y:446,w:456,h:23},
{t:"cross has been portrayed as the place where Jesus died for us and ",p:23,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"where we receive from him, but rarely is it shown as the location ",p:23,x:105,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of our joint crucifxion with Christ.",p:23,x:105,y:528,w:251,h:23},
{t:"Te uncomfortable truth is that Jesus calls us to share his ",p:23,x:135,y:556,w:426,h:23},
{t:"cross. He said that “anyone who does not take his cross and fol-",p:23,x:105,y:583,w:449,h:23},
{t:"low me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38). Jesus explained ",p:23,x:105,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"that he was not going to do all the dying so we could comfort-",p:23,x:105,y:638,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ably enjoy all the living. He insisted, on the contrary: “If anyone ",p:23,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his ",p:23,x:105,y:693,w:457,h:23},
{t:"cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Tis rigorous challenge ",p:23,x:105,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"comes at the beginning of faith, not halfway along the journey. ",p:23,x:105,y:748,w:448,h:23},
{t:"We have become accustomed to Christian literature that ",p:23,x:135,y:776,w:427,h:23},
{t:"outlines programs and processes for changing our lives so that ",p:23,x:105,y:803,w:456,h:23},
{t:"we may beneft more from living for Jesus. Tis was never ",p:23,x:105,y:831,w:458,h:23},
{t:"what Jesus intended. His purpose was not to call us to a glib ",p:23,x:105,y:858,w:456,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:24,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"8",p:24,x:105,y:935,w:6,h:19},
{t:"“easy-believism.” Instead, he challenged people to come and die, ",p:24,x:105,y:116,w:454,h:23},
{t:"a death that was not intended to be an end, but a beginning. ",p:24,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Tis explains the words of Jesus, “Whoever fnds his life will lose ",p:24,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will fnd it” (Matthew ",p:24,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"10:39). Instead of using self-discipline and hard work to conform ",p:24,x:105,y:226,w:453,h:23},
{t:"our will to God’s will, we can live by his power and life within us.",p:24,x:105,y:253,w:449,h:23},
{t:"So how do I live the crucifed life? It all begins at the cross. ",p:24,x:134,y:281,w:425,h:23},
{t:"Tere I abandon control of my own life and surrender it into the ",p:24,x:105,y:308,w:453,h:23},
{t:"hands of the one who died for me. Ten I stop trying to live for ",p:24,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Jesus and start allowing him to live his life through me. Tis is ",p:24,x:105,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the crucifed life. Perhaps this does not seem attractive, sounding ",p:24,x:105,y:391,w:453,h:23},
{t:"too much like hard work. Actually the opposite is true, for the ",p:24,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"wonder of it all is that through a crucifed death Jesus ofers the ",p:24,x:105,y:446,w:454,h:23},
{t:"only doorway to resurrection and to a crucifed life. As I die to ",p:24,x:105,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"myself, Jesus creates new life in me and through me. He begins ",p:24,x:105,y:501,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to exchange my energies, desires, abilities, and passions for his! ",p:24,x:105,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Tis is a whole new life, one that starts with a cross. ",p:24,x:105,y:556,w:369,h:23},
{t:"Dying to Liv",p:24,x:252,y:607,w:130,h:30},
{t:"e",p:24,x:397,y:607,w:10,h:30},
{t:"At frst glance this appears to be a contradiction. Here, ",p:24,x:135,y:648,w:428,h:23},
{t:"however, is the supreme paradox. For how can life emerge from ",p:24,x:105,y:675,w:454,h:23},
{t:"death? How can a person die and live simultaneously? How ",p:24,x:105,y:703,w:457,h:23},
{t:"can the sufering and disgrace of the cross ever be regarded as ",p:24,x:105,y:730,w:456,h:23},
{t:"something with a wonderful outcome?",p:24,x:105,y:758,w:272,h:23},
{t:"On that sun-dappled afternoon in England, I frst glimpsed ",p:24,x:135,y:785,w:424,h:23},
{t:"the understanding that Jesus does not require my best efort. ",p:24,x:105,y:813,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Instead, he wants to live his life in me. He doesn ’t want to im-",p:24,x:105,y:840,w:449,h:23},
{t:"prove the old version; he wants to replace it. When I came to ",p:24,x:105,y:868,w:456,h:23},
{t:"9",p:25,x:548,y:935,w:6,h:19},
{t:"HUNGRY",p:25,x:506,y:64,w:43,h:21},
{t:"that realization, my world exploded. No longer did I search for ",p:25,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"textbooks on how to live. I had discovered the great, liberating ",p:25,x:105,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"truth that Jesus simply wanted to live through me.",p:25,x:105,y:171,w:351,h:23},
{t:"As I stood, brushed of the grass, and left the hillside be-",p:25,x:135,y:198,w:419,h:23},
{t:"hind, I could scarcely believe what I had discovered. I saw the ",p:25,x:105,y:226,w:456,h:23},
{t:"landscape of my life in a new light. Te Christian life was not a ",p:25,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"teller’s counter from which to withdraw gifts from the bank of ",p:25,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"heaven for my own beneft. No, this was the place to invest my ",p:25,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"life, for God’s glory.",p:25,x:105,y:336,w:139,h:23},
{t:"It was becoming clear that Jesus’ death on the cross had ",p:25,x:135,y:363,w:427,h:23},
{t:"achieved two things: it showed me the way to live, and it showed ",p:25,x:105,y:391,w:453,h:23},
{t:"me the way to die. Tis meant that I could start to live through ",p:25,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Jesus’ life within rather than work on self-improvements in my ",p:25,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"old life. I could exchange his life for mine. ",p:25,x:105,y:473,w:303,h:23},
{t:"Luis Palau, the Argentinean-born evangelist, has spoken ",p:25,x:135,y:501,w:428,h:23},
{t:"about the deep discouragement he felt early in his relationship ",p:25,x:105,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"with God. He recalls how one day as a young man he was ",p:25,x:105,y:556,w:458,h:23},
{t:"reduced to feeling “ft to quit.” He felt inadequate for the chal-",p:25,x:105,y:583,w:449,h:23},
{t:"lenge God had given him to go and change the world. He knew ",p:25,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"he lacked the required personal resources. Te awareness of this ",p:25,x:105,y:638,w:454,h:23},
{t:"inadequacy did not prove to be solely negative for Luis. Far from ",p:25,x:105,y:666,w:453,h:23},
{t:"it! Tis realization proved to be the doorway to a deep surrender ",p:25,x:105,y:693,w:454,h:23},
{t:"that would transform him into a man God could use to touch ",p:25,x:105,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"hundreds of thousands of people. ",p:25,x:105,y:748,w:240,h:23},
{t:"When we stop trying to prove or to improve ourselves, God ",p:25,x:135,y:776,w:424,h:23},
{t:"can step into our lives in a fresh way. When we allow the Lord ",p:25,x:105,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to reduce us to a position where we too are “ft to quit,” then ",p:25,x:105,y:831,w:456,h:23},
{t:"he can do a deeper work in our hearts and lives. When we stop ",p:25,x:105,y:858,w:455,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:26,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"10",p:26,x:105,y:935,w:11,h:19},
{t:"searching for ways to change ourselves, we prepare for a journey ",p:26,x:105,y:116,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of discovery into all that he has for us—not what we have for him.",p:26,x:105,y:143,w:450,h:23},
{t:"Te death of our old nature must precede new life. Tis ",p:26,x:134,y:171,w:427,h:23},
{t:"is not, of course, about taking our lives physically. Instead, we ",p:26,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"surrender our inner nature and priorities for a higher purpose. ",p:26,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"In essence we die to ourselves in order that we might live for ",p:26,x:105,y:253,w:456,h:23},
{t:"God. We follow the instruction of a father who sacrifced his ",p:26,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"son and who desires that we lose our lives so that we may fnd ",p:26,x:105,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"them again.",p:26,x:105,y:336,w:83,h:23},
{t:"As Paul phrased it for the early church, “Don ’t you know ",p:26,x:134,y:363,w:426,h:23},
{t:"that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized ",p:26,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"into his death? We were therefore buried with him through ",p:26,x:105,y:418,w:458,h:23},
{t:"baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from ",p:26,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new ",p:26,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"life” (Romans 6:3–4). ",p:26,x:105,y:501,w:157,h:23},
{t:"Only the life of the risen Lord Jesus vividly displayed in you ",p:26,x:134,y:528,w:424,h:23},
{t:"and in me will make a diference. We may want to change. We ",p:26,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"may even expect to create godly change within ourselves. True ",p:26,x:105,y:583,w:456,h:23},
{t:"change, however, will never result from our human eforts. ",p:26,x:105,y:611,w:417,h:23},
{t:"Beyond the C",p:26,x:231,y:662,w:142,h:30},
{t:"ross",p:26,x:384,y:662,w:41,h:30},
{t:"How do dying and living embrace each other in the “cruci-",p:26,x:135,y:703,w:419,h:23},
{t:"fed life”? How does the paradox become resolved? Like a valu-",p:26,x:105,y:730,w:449,h:23},
{t:"able gemstone, the Christian life has various facets. Each chapter ",p:26,x:105,y:758,w:453,h:23},
{t:"of this book deals with one facet.",p:26,x:105,y:785,w:232,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:26,x:135,y:820,w:11,h:22},
{t:"Crucifed—I view my life from a cross. I ofer my ",p:26,x:164,y:820,w:358,h:23},
{t:"spirit and inner nature to be renewed by the one who ",p:26,x:164,y:848,w:381,h:23},
{t:"frst gave me life.",p:26,x:164,y:875,w:119,h:23},
{t:"11",p:27,x:544,y:935,w:9,h:19},
{t:"HUNGRY",p:27,x:506,y:64,w:43,h:21},
{t:"•	",p:27,x:135,y:116,w:11,h:22},
{t:"Surrender—I abdicate the throne of my life to Jesus’ ",p:27,x:164,y:116,w:378,h:23},
{t:"reign and rule.",p:27,x:164,y:143,w:103,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:27,x:135,y:171,w:11,h:22},
{t:"Disciple—I follow the only leader worthy of my ",p:27,x:164,y:171,w:349,h:23},
{t:"devotion and service.",p:27,x:164,y:198,w:149,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:27,x:135,y:226,w:11,h:22},
{t:"Sacrifce—I gamble my life, but not with dice. I risk ",p:27,x:164,y:226,w:377,h:23},
{t:"my life for God’s purposes.",p:27,x:164,y:253,w:189,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:27,x:135,y:281,w:11,h:22},
{t:"Giving—I lose my priority of self-interest for service ",p:27,x:164,y:281,w:376,h:23},
{t:"to others.",p:27,x:164,y:308,w:66,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:27,x:135,y:336,w:11,h:22},
{t:"Exchange—I transfer my life to Jesus, exchanging it ",p:27,x:164,y:336,w:373,h:23},
{t:"for his life in me.",p:27,x:164,y:363,w:121,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:27,x:135,y:391,w:11,h:22},
{t:"Dying—I die to myself so that Jesus can enable me to ",p:27,x:164,y:391,w:386,h:23},
{t:"live for him.",p:27,x:164,y:418,w:86,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:27,x:135,y:446,w:11,h:22},
{t:"Broken—I pour out my life and love in appreciation ",p:27,x:164,y:446,w:379,h:23},
{t:"for the love given to me.",p:27,x:164,y:473,w:172,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:27,x:135,y:501,w:11,h:22},
{t:"Spirit-Filled—I know that God himself lives in me, ",p:27,x:164,y:501,w:373,h:23},
{t:"and I experience the glorious roller-coaster ride of life ",p:27,x:164,y:528,w:381,h:23},
{t:"in the Spirit.",p:27,x:164,y:556,w:89,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:27,x:135,y:584,w:11,h:22},
{t:"Fruit—I live a transformed life that is productive ",p:27,x:164,y:583,w:352,h:23},
{t:"and gives me the excitement of seeing results in my ",p:27,x:164,y:611,w:365,h:23},
{t:"Christian walk.",p:27,x:164,y:638,w:108,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:27,x:135,y:666,w:11,h:22},
{t:"Destiny—I receive life from God not to waste it, but ",p:27,x:164,y:666,w:380,h:23},
{t:"to live for a purpose—a glorious purpose!",p:27,x:164,y:693,w:292,h:23},
{t:"In all of these facets Christ speaks. He ofers life from a cross ",p:27,x:135,y:728,w:423,h:23},
{t:"for me to share: a crucifed life, the only antidote to the “do-it-",p:27,x:105,y:756,w:449,h:23},
{t:"yourself ” religion I tried for so long.",p:27,x:105,y:783,w:256,h:23},
{t:"You could say that my friend Ted was born with a guitar in ",p:27,x:135,y:811,w:424,h:23},
{t:"his hands. His passion to play music was refected in a career ",p:27,x:105,y:838,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of clubs, bands, and solo performances, punctuated by the ",p:27,x:105,y:866,w:459,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:28,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"12",p:28,x:105,y:935,w:10,h:19},
{t:"occasional steady job and paycheck when things got desperate. ",p:28,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"He desired musical excellence, and as a result he had a successful ",p:28,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"career as a professional musician. Despite success in his career, ",p:28,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Ted experienced sickness in his family, rejection at work, and the ",p:28,x:105,y:198,w:453,h:23},
{t:"disappointment of unfulflled musical dreams that brought him ",p:28,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"as low as he had ever been.",p:28,x:105,y:253,w:188,h:23},
{t:"It was then that Ted faced the cross of Jesus. He found, to ",p:28,x:134,y:281,w:425,h:23},
{t:"his surprise, that Jesus hadn ’t died simply to bring him the good ",p:28,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"life he wanted. Instead, Christ asked Ted to join him! A joint ",p:28,x:105,y:336,w:456,h:23},
{t:"crucifxion was not the life Ted had anticipated. Nor were his ",p:28,x:105,y:363,w:456,h:23},
{t:"problems disappearing. He continued to need God’s strength ",p:28,x:105,y:391,w:457,h:23},
{t:"and care, but his life was starting to change.",p:28,x:105,y:418,w:308,h:23},
{t:"Te men ’s ministry at church needed a worship leader, so ",p:28,x:134,y:446,w:426,h:23},
{t:"Ted reluctantly stepped into the role. Looking back, he recalls, ",p:28,x:105,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"“We sounded nothing like the professional, album-cutting wor-",p:28,x:105,y:501,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ship team I envisioned.” He wanted to leave his post, but the ",p:28,x:105,y:528,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Lord reminded him that a crucifed life does not act on its own ",p:28,x:105,y:556,w:454,h:23},
{t:"desires. It cannot—it is anchored to a cross.",p:28,x:105,y:583,w:307,h:23},
{t:"Ted humbled himself, as Jesus did on the cross. Today, the ",p:28,x:134,y:611,w:425,h:23},
{t:"Lord reveals himself through Ted’s music ministry; and Ted is ",p:28,x:105,y:638,w:456,h:23},
{t:"glad he chose to remain a worship leader. Others recognize that ",p:28,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"his life has changed, and Ted is experiencing true inner joy. He ",p:28,x:105,y:693,w:455,h:23},
{t:"still reminds himself, “It isn ’t about me and my musical ability; ",p:28,x:105,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"it is about God and his glory.”",p:28,x:105,y:748,w:212,h:23},
{t:"In dying to liv e, we are introduced to the jo y of ",p:28,x:134,y:776,w:431,h:23},
{t:"resurrection.",p:28,x:105,y:803,w:90,h:23},
{t:"13",p:29,x:542,y:935,w:11,h:19},
{t:"HUNGRY",p:29,x:506,y:64,w:43,h:21},
{t:"Prayer ",p:29,x:105,y:123,w:75,h:38},
{t:" Lord Jesus, it is incredible that you not only died ",p:29,x:191,y:131,w:367,h:28},
{t:"for me but you also expect me to share in that death. And thank ",p:29,x:105,y:161,w:454,h:23},
{t:"you, Lord, that it does not end there. Please help me to relax in ",p:29,x:105,y:189,w:454,h:23},
{t:"your love and allow you to live your life through me. Introduce ",p:29,x:105,y:216,w:454,h:23},
{t:"me to the joy of knowing and living a crucifed life. Amen.",p:29,x:105,y:244,w:414,h:23},
{t:"15",p:30,x:543,y:935,w:10,h:19},
{t:"CHAPTER TWO",p:30,x:105,y:240,w:59,h:14},
{t:"Crucified",p:30,x:105,y:292,w:168,h:69},
{t:"THE CRUCIFIED LIFE",p:30,x:172,y:380,w:166,h:34},
{t:"The young preacher looked uncertain. His voice ",p:30,x:165,y:489,w:400,h:69},
{t:"quivered slightly, his knees trembled, and his palms ",p:30,x:189,y:529,w:371,h:23},
{t:"were soaked. He intended to recite a quotation, but he couldn ’t ",p:30,x:104,y:556,w:454,h:23},
{t:"remember its source. His eyes anxiously scanned his notes to dis-",p:30,x:104,y:584,w:449,h:23},
{t:"cover the author’s identity. A long pause . . . Ah! He had it. “Yes, ",p:30,x:104,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"J. Mighal . . . Smith.” Sympathetic laughter rippled through the ",p:30,x:104,y:639,w:454,h:23},
{t:"congregation. To forget such a common surname! ",p:30,x:104,y:666,w:354,h:23},
{t:"Struggling on, the preacher read the apostle Paul’s words in ",p:30,x:134,y:694,w:424,h:23},
{t:"2 Timothy 2:11–12: “If we died with him, we will also live with ",p:30,x:104,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"him; if we endure, we will also reign with him.” He moved into ",p:30,x:104,y:749,w:454,h:23},
{t:"familiar territory as he shared, “If a seed dies, then the plant will ",p:30,x:104,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"live. If a bulb is buried in the earth, then the fower can grow. ",p:30,x:104,y:804,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Dying has to come before living.” ",p:30,x:104,y:831,w:241,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:31,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"16",p:31,x:105,y:935,w:11,h:19},
{t:"As conviction mounted, his words intensifed. Tis truth was ",p:31,x:135,y:116,w:423,h:23},
{t:"the all-consuming passion of his heart, an unusual conviction to ",p:31,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"be held so deeply by a young man just starting his ministry. As ",p:31,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"he poured out his soul, he sensed that God himself had rooted ",p:31,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"those words deep within him—and God would not miss the ",p:31,x:105,y:226,w:457,h:23},
{t:"mark!",p:31,x:105,y:253,w:40,h:23},
{t:"Living A way fr om the C",p:31,x:172,y:304,w:261,h:30},
{t:"ross",p:31,x:443,y:304,w:41,h:30},
{t:"If you guessed that I was that young preacher, you are cor-",p:31,x:135,y:345,w:419,h:23},
{t:"rect! Looking back, thirty-fve years later, I am left with one ",p:31,x:105,y:373,w:457,h:23},
{t:"relentless question: Where did that message go? Te message ",p:31,x:105,y:400,w:457,h:23},
{t:"never completely disappeared; there were occasions when I ",p:31,x:105,y:428,w:459,h:23},
{t:"vividly preached the cross. But there were just so many other ",p:31,x:105,y:455,w:456,h:23},
{t:"messages upon which a young preacher could dwell. When I did ",p:31,x:105,y:483,w:454,h:23},
{t:"preach about the cross, the focus was Jesus dying for me—rarely ",p:31,x:105,y:510,w:454,h:23},
{t:"was the idea me dying with him!",p:31,x:105,y:538,w:230,h:23},
{t:"During the past ffty or so years, an emphasis on the cruci-",p:31,x:135,y:565,w:419,h:23},
{t:"fed life has drifted to the background of Christian thought. ",p:31,x:105,y:593,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Some have almost taken the concept for granted because it has ",p:31,x:105,y:620,w:455,h:23},
{t:"been a vital part of their Christian walk for so long. But we need ",p:31,x:105,y:648,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to ask, “Have we passed the message on?” ",p:31,x:105,y:675,w:297,h:23},
{t:"Quietly and unobtrusively, the issue of our dying has been ",p:31,x:135,y:703,w:425,h:23},
{t:"overtaken by what we regard as more important matters of life. A ",p:31,x:105,y:730,w:453,h:23},
{t:"whole generation has grown up on a diet of the latest programs ",p:31,x:105,y:758,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and processes (for example, “Use this fve-point plan to achieve ",p:31,x:105,y:785,w:455,h:23},
{t:"a victorious walk”). We explore new strategies to impact society ",p:31,x:105,y:813,w:454,h:23},
{t:"with the love of Jesus. We seek more relevance in our church ",p:31,x:105,y:840,w:456,h:23},
{t:"programs. We try to fnd deeper insights and greater vitality to ",p:31,x:105,y:868,w:455,h:23},
{t:"17",p:32,x:543,y:935,w:10,h:19},
{t:"CRUCIFIED",p:32,x:490,y:64,w:55,h:21},
{t:"communicate Christ to those who have never encountered him. ",p:32,x:104,y:116,w:454,h:23},
{t:"But after trying our best, we may sense that an aching hunger ",p:32,x:104,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"remains—a lingering desire for more of God in our lives. It’s ",p:32,x:104,y:171,w:456,h:23},
{t:"not uncommon today to hear that people are searching for fresh ",p:32,x:104,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"reservoirs of the Spirit’s power. ",p:32,x:104,y:226,w:219,h:23},
{t:"As I examine the myriad of Christian books written in the ",p:32,x:134,y:253,w:425,h:23},
{t:"past ffty years on every subject under the sun, I encounter a ",p:32,x:104,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"great omission. Te error is fundamental, and I admit that I ",p:32,x:104,y:308,w:457,h:23},
{t:"am among those who failed to notice. Infuenced by the tide ",p:32,x:104,y:336,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of Christian opinion, I failed to remember that the heart of ",p:32,x:104,y:363,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Christian faith lies frst in a cross and then in an empty tomb. ",p:32,x:104,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Crucifxion precedes resurrection. ",p:32,x:104,y:418,w:242,h:23},
{t:"My call from God was to preach the crucifed life. I have ",p:32,x:134,y:446,w:426,h:23},
{t:"neglected that call at my own peril.",p:32,x:104,y:473,w:248,h:23},
{t:"God calling his people to live on the far side of the cross. ",p:32,x:134,y:501,w:426,h:23},
{t:"Jesus’ death on the cross was not simply what God did for us in ",p:32,x:104,y:528,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the past, but it’s also what God wants for each one of us now. But ",p:32,x:104,y:556,w:453,h:23},
{t:"don ’t misunderstand! Te cross of Jesus Christ does represent a ",p:32,x:104,y:583,w:455,h:23},
{t:"once-and-for-all event. His death encompassed all dying, opened ",p:32,x:104,y:611,w:453,h:23},
{t:"salvation to all, and obliterated the power of death. No action on ",p:32,x:104,y:638,w:453,h:23},
{t:"our part can support or complement what Jesus has done. His ",p:32,x:104,y:666,w:455,h:23},
{t:"death stands alone.",p:32,x:104,y:693,w:134,h:23},
{t:"Do we also have a cross? Jesus said, “Anyone who does not ",p:32,x:134,y:721,w:425,h:23},
{t:"carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke ",p:32,x:104,y:748,w:458,h:23},
{t:"14:27). Notice the important wording: “his cross.” Jesus was ",p:32,x:104,y:776,w:457,h:23},
{t:"referring to every person. Te supreme test of discipleship that ",p:32,x:104,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Jesus imposed on his followers is that each one should be ready to ",p:32,x:104,y:831,w:453,h:23},
{t:"“give up everything he has” (Luke 14:33) and then “deny himself ",p:32,x:104,y:858,w:453,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:33,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"18",p:33,x:105,y:935,w:11,h:19},
{t:"and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Te idea ",p:33,x:105,y:116,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of sharing in Christ’s crucifxion is never comfortable.",p:33,x:105,y:143,w:379,h:23},
{t:"What is this cross that is reserved for us? Te words of the ",p:33,x:134,y:171,w:425,h:23},
{t:"twentieth-century prophet A. W . Tozer have been very helpful to ",p:33,x:105,y:198,w:453,h:23},
{t:"me. “It is not a cross on a hill nor a cross on a church. It is not ",p:33,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"a cross that can be worn around the neck. It must be the cross ",p:33,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"of obedience to the will of God, and we must embrace it, each ",p:33,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"believer for himself!”1",p:33,x:105,y:308,w:151,h:23},
{t:"When obedience is not a single event but a daily experience, ",p:33,x:135,y:336,w:424,h:23},
{t:"then we walk voluntarily in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus. Te ",p:33,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"result is what Paul calls the “trustworthy saying,” that “If we died ",p:33,x:105,y:391,w:453,h:23},
{t:"with him, we will also live with him” (2 Timothy 2:11). As Paul ",p:33,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"assured the church at Colosse, “You died, and your life is now ",p:33,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).",p:33,x:105,y:473,w:320,h:23},
{t:"As we live secure in this reality, we can sense our partnership ",p:33,x:135,y:501,w:424,h:23},
{t:"with Jesus in building the kingdom of God and know that those ",p:33,x:105,y:528,w:454,h:23},
{t:"who endure unrestricted crucifxion can anticipate resurrection ",p:33,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"in his glory. Tat’s the wonderful paradox of the crucifed life!",p:33,x:105,y:583,w:435,h:23},
{t:"Living Where Christ R",p:33,x:172,y:634,w:245,h:30},
{t:"eigns",p:33,x:430,y:634,w:52,h:30},
{t:"Phil and Becca Smith knew comfort and security because ",p:33,x:135,y:675,w:426,h:23},
{t:"of Phil’s executive position in a leading American corporation. ",p:33,x:105,y:703,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Ten God intruded into their comfortable, secure lives. First, ",p:33,x:105,y:730,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Phil was called to serve as executive pastor of their home church, ",p:33,x:105,y:758,w:454,h:23},
{t:"where we worked together in happy collaboration. Today, they ",p:33,x:105,y:785,w:455,h:23},
{t:"serve alongside churches in troubled, post-genocide Rwanda ",p:33,x:105,y:813,w:458,h:23},
{t:"1.",p:33,x:105,y:866,w:11,h:19},
{t:" A. W. Tozer, Te Radical Cross (Camp Hill, PA: Wing Spread Publishers, ",p:33,x:123,y:866,w:424,h:19},
{t:"2006), 77.",p:33,x:104,y:886,w:61,h:19},
{t:"19",p:34,x:542,y:935,w:11,h:19},
{t:"CRUCIFIED",p:34,x:490,y:64,w:55,h:21},
{t:"as country directors for World Relief, ministering to the poor, ",p:34,x:104,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"to those living with HIV/AIDS, and to displaced widows and ",p:34,x:104,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"orphans.",p:34,x:104,y:171,w:61,h:23},
{t:"Recently Phil and Becca visited our church. It’s always fun to ",p:34,x:134,y:198,w:423,h:23},
{t:"be reunited with them, and I took the opportunity to interview ",p:34,x:104,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"them during the weekend services. I have a slight mischievous ",p:34,x:104,y:253,w:456,h:23},
{t:"streak, so during our conversation in front of the congregation, ",p:34,x:104,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"I ofered Phil his old job. I knew what his response would be. ",p:34,x:104,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"“Look, I would love to,” he said. “But God has called us to be ",p:34,x:104,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"where we are in Rwanda. We want to obey him.”",p:34,x:104,y:363,w:344,h:23},
{t:"God challenges each of us to live for him, wherever we are. ",p:34,x:134,y:391,w:425,h:23},
{t:"Whether in your hometown or city, within your homeland or ",p:34,x:104,y:418,w:456,h:23},
{t:"overseas, in safety or danger—whatever the circumstances—God ",p:34,x:104,y:446,w:453,h:23},
{t:"wants to live in and through you.",p:34,x:104,y:473,w:235,h:23},
{t:"For each person who has surrendered his or her life to Jesus ",p:34,x:134,y:501,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Christ there exists two corresponding biblical symbols: a cross ",p:34,x:104,y:528,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and a throne. Our natural inclination is to concentrate all atten-",p:34,x:104,y:556,w:449,h:23},
{t:"tion on achieving the throne and to forget that the cross comes ",p:34,x:104,y:583,w:455,h:23},
{t:"frst. Te apostle Paul was not reluctant to face this truth. He ",p:34,x:104,y:611,w:456,h:23},
{t:"reminded the Christians in Colosse that they “died with Christ ",p:34,x:104,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to the basic principles of this world” (Colossians 2:20), and he ",p:34,x:104,y:666,w:455,h:23},
{t:"warned the believers in Rome that one day they would be held ",p:34,x:104,y:693,w:455,h:23},
{t:"accountable for the way they had lived (Romans 14:10–12). ",p:34,x:104,y:721,w:428,h:23},
{t:"We may prefer to anticipate the throne, but the only way ",p:34,x:134,y:748,w:426,h:23},
{t:"to get there is by way of the cross. Te route always includes ",p:34,x:104,y:776,w:456,h:23},
{t:"confict, which Jesus experienced in the garden of Gethsemane, ",p:34,x:104,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"between our will and that of Father God. His will must triumph ",p:34,x:104,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"in our lives for the way to the throne, via the cross, to be secured.",p:34,x:104,y:858,w:450,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:35,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"20",p:35,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"Our selfsh will can be so stubborn and proud. It always ",p:35,x:135,y:116,w:427,h:23},
{t:"seeks to guard its own rights rather than capitulate to the will of ",p:35,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"God. We defend ourselves strongly against any attack from oth-",p:35,x:105,y:171,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ers or any attempt by God to show us the truth about ourselves. ",p:35,x:105,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"We get angry, envious, and anxious. We fnd fault with others ",p:35,x:105,y:226,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and resist giving in. Even if we try to do everything correctly, we ",p:35,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"can do it in the wrong spirit or with the wrong motives. Our ",p:35,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"fesh will even try to do God’s work, but the results will not be ",p:35,x:105,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"efective. Tat is why the fesh has to be crucifed—it cannot ",p:35,x:105,y:336,w:456,h:23},
{t:"simply be changed. ",p:35,x:105,y:363,w:140,h:23},
{t:"We need to abdicate the throne of our life so that Jesus can ",p:35,x:135,y:391,w:424,h:23},
{t:"reign. As long as we concentrate on our throne, we will remain ",p:35,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the king of our own tiny kingdom. Only when we allow Christ ",p:35,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to bring us to our cross will anything change. If we refuse the cross ",p:35,x:105,y:473,w:453,h:23},
{t:"of obedience, then we remain on a fruitless throne. ",p:35,x:105,y:501,w:341,h:23},
{t:"Living in an U",p:35,x:122,y:552,w:148,h:30},
{t:"pside-D own Kingdom",p:35,x:287,y:552,w:242,h:30},
{t:"No one chooses the cross—until desperate to have all that ",p:35,x:135,y:593,w:425,h:23},
{t:"God would do in us. We each must die on our own cross, not on ",p:35,x:105,y:620,w:453,h:23},
{t:"one belonging to someone else. Ten we sacrifce everything to ",p:35,x:105,y:648,w:455,h:23},
{t:"his will in serving Jesus Christ. It isn ’t about part of our life being ",p:35,x:105,y:675,w:454,h:23},
{t:"crucifed with Christ, but all of life being ofered to God. Here we ",p:35,x:105,y:703,w:453,h:23},
{t:"discover the diference between a life of growing sainthood and ",p:35,x:104,y:730,w:455,h:23},
{t:"one of spiritual mediocrity. Some are content to stop halfway on ",p:35,x:104,y:758,w:454,h:23},
{t:"their climb up the mountain, while others are determined not to ",p:35,x:104,y:785,w:454,h:23},
{t:"stop short of fnishing the ascent with Jesus.",p:35,x:104,y:813,w:310,h:23},
{t:"Look closely and see that the apostle Paul does not say “Jesus ",p:35,x:134,y:840,w:423,h:23},
{t:"Christ was crucifed for me, I have only to receive the benefts.” ",p:35,x:104,y:868,w:454,h:23},
{t:"21",p:36,x:543,y:935,w:10,h:19},
{t:"CRUCIFIED",p:36,x:490,y:64,w:55,h:21},
{t:"Instead, he announces no less than a joint crucifxion: “I have ",p:36,x:104,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"been crucifed with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives ",p:36,x:104,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"in me” (Galatians 2:20). He gives no suggestion that this is a ",p:36,x:104,y:171,w:456,h:23},
{t:"deluxe type of Christian experience. Paul is describing the reality ",p:36,x:104,y:198,w:453,h:23},
{t:"of the normal Christian life. Tis is what transformed him to live ",p:36,x:104,y:226,w:453,h:23},
{t:"an incredible life. Being crucifed was an ongoing reality in his ",p:36,x:104,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"daily experience. ",p:36,x:104,y:281,w:121,h:23},
{t:"Let us turn again to the words of Tozer: ",p:36,x:134,y:308,w:283,h:23},
{t:"Tough the cross of Christ has been beautifed by the ",p:36,x:134,y:343,w:395,h:23},
{t:"poet and the artist, the person avidly seeking God will ",p:36,x:134,y:371,w:395,h:23},
{t:"likely experience it as the same savage implement of ",p:36,x:134,y:398,w:397,h:23},
{t:"destruction it was in the days of old. Te way of the ",p:36,x:134,y:426,w:396,h:23},
{t:"cross is still the pain-wracked path to spiritual power ",p:36,x:134,y:453,w:396,h:23},
{t:"and fruitfulness.",p:36,x:134,y:481,w:114,h:23},
{t:"So do not seek to hide from it. Do not accept an ",p:36,x:164,y:508,w:366,h:23},
{t:"easy way. Do not allow yourself to be patted to sleep in ",p:36,x:134,y:536,w:394,h:23},
{t:"a comfortable church, void of power and barren of fruit. ",p:36,x:134,y:563,w:393,h:23},
{t:"Do not paint the cross nor deck it with fowers. Take it ",p:36,x:134,y:591,w:394,h:23},
{t:"for what it is, as it is, and you will fnd it the rugged way ",p:36,x:134,y:618,w:393,h:23},
{t:"to death and life. Let it slay you utterly.2 ",p:36,x:134,y:646,w:288,h:23},
{t:"While writing these words, I met Pastor Jim. Until recently ",p:36,x:135,y:681,w:424,h:23},
{t:"he supported his family with a well-paying job at a cement ",p:36,x:105,y:708,w:458,h:23},
{t:"company in Illinois. A small, struggling church of ffty people ",p:36,x:105,y:736,w:456,h:23},
{t:"needed a pastor, and Jim was God’s man for the job. Tere is ",p:36,x:105,y:763,w:456,h:23},
{t:"no amazing end to this story. Te congregation remains about ",p:36,x:105,y:791,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the same size. Life is not signifcantly easier for Jim or for his ",p:36,x:105,y:818,w:456,h:23},
{t:"2.",p:36,x:105,y:886,w:11,h:19},
{t:" Ibid., 66.",p:36,x:123,y:886,w:57,h:19},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:37,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"22",p:37,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"family. Much has been surrendered, and many sacrifces have ",p:37,x:105,y:116,w:457,h:23},
{t:"been made. Pastor Jim does not see these as reasons to return ",p:37,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"to his former position. Tat is the crucifed life: the day-by-day ",p:37,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"dedication of all we have and are to God’s purposes for our life. ",p:37,x:105,y:198,w:450,h:23},
{t:"What does this mean? It reveals that to live you must frst ",p:37,x:134,y:226,w:425,h:23},
{t:"die to yourself; and when you die, you begin to live a vibrant, ",p:37,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"eternal life. Te Christian starts to learn that the crucifed life ",p:37,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"is God’s introduction to his upside-down kingdom. And here ",p:37,x:105,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"the paradox becomes still more obvious. In the upside-down ",p:37,x:105,y:336,w:457,h:23},
{t:"kingdom, you",p:37,x:105,y:363,w:99,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:37,x:134,y:398,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Are strongest when you are weak.",p:37,x:164,y:398,w:235,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:37,x:134,y:426,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Are rich when what you have is at the Lord’s disposal, ",p:37,x:164,y:426,w:383,h:23},
{t:"but you are poor when retaining control of wealth.",p:37,x:164,y:453,w:358,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:37,x:134,y:481,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Sin less when conscious of sin, but you are vulnerable ",p:37,x:164,y:481,w:382,h:23},
{t:"when feeling invincible.",p:37,x:164,y:508,w:168,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:37,x:134,y:536,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Are most ready for heaven when serving God’s business ",p:37,x:164,y:536,w:394,h:23},
{t:"on earth, but you are least ready for eternal glory when ",p:37,x:164,y:563,w:391,h:23},
{t:"serving your own interests.",p:37,x:164,y:591,w:188,h:23},
{t:"It all boils down to realizing that our security, well-being, ",p:37,x:134,y:626,w:426,h:23},
{t:"and fruitfulness lie in Christ, not in our own performance. Paul ",p:37,x:105,y:653,w:454,h:23},
{t:"wrote of this life-transforming condition in these words: “May I ",p:37,x:105,y:681,w:454,h:23},
{t:"never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through ",p:37,x:105,y:708,w:454,h:23},
{t:"which the world has been crucifed to me, and I to the world” ",p:37,x:105,y:736,w:455,h:23},
{t:"(Galatians 6:14).",p:37,x:105,y:763,w:119,h:23},
{t:"Tis is not the culmination, but the beginning of new things ",p:37,x:134,y:791,w:423,h:23},
{t:"our God wants to do in us and through us.",p:37,x:105,y:818,w:303,h:23},
{t:"23",p:38,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"CRUCIFIED",p:38,x:490,y:64,w:55,h:21},
{t:"Living God",p:38,x:231,y:115,w:126,h:30},
{t:"’s Way",p:38,x:359,y:115,w:67,h:30},
{t:"Is this life too extr eme? It can seem so to us. B ut the Lord ",p:38,x:135,y:156,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Jesus always mades ex clusive claims on the liv es of his disciples. ",p:38,x:105,y:183,w:450,h:23},
{t:"Rather than adopting a lifestyle of “J esus . . . and something ",p:38,x:105,y:211,w:456,h:23},
{t:"else,” we are pointed to the way of “J esus . . . and nothing else!” ",p:38,x:105,y:238,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Jesus said that anyone wanting to follow him without loving ",p:38,x:105,y:266,w:456,h:23},
{t:"him more than anything or any one, father and mother, wife ",p:38,x:105,y:293,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and children, brothers and sisters—ev en his own life—that ",p:38,x:105,y:321,w:457,h:23},
{t:"person could not be his disciple (L uke 14:26). Even those ",p:38,x:105,y:348,w:456,h:23},
{t:"things we hold most dear ar e to be relegated to second place.",p:38,x:105,y:376,w:434,h:23},
{t:"Consider how Jacob and his twin brother, Esau, difered in ",p:38,x:135,y:403,w:425,h:23},
{t:"their responses to God’s love and grace. Esau typifes a self-made ",p:38,x:105,y:431,w:454,h:23},
{t:"man. He threw away his birthright for a bowl of soup (Genesis ",p:38,x:105,y:458,w:455,h:23},
{t:"25:29–34), which is why Scripture says God rejected him ",p:38,x:105,y:486,w:460,h:23},
{t:"(Malachi 1:1–4; Hebrews 12:16–17). Esau was a man like the ",p:38,x:105,y:513,w:456,h:23},
{t:"nineteenth-century British prime minister, Benjamin Disraeli, ",p:38,x:105,y:541,w:457,h:23},
{t:"famous for his ego and self-assertiveness as a political opponent. ",p:38,x:105,y:568,w:454,h:23},
{t:"John Bright said of Disraeli, “He is a self-created man, and he ",p:38,x:105,y:596,w:455,h:23},
{t:"worships his creator.” ",p:38,x:105,y:623,w:154,h:23},
{t:"Self-dependency results in a character that excludes any ",p:38,x:135,y:651,w:428,h:23},
{t:"need for God. In fact, God can do nothing with the person who ",p:38,x:105,y:678,w:454,h:23},
{t:"stubbornly refuses to admit that he or she needs anything from ",p:38,x:105,y:706,w:455,h:23},
{t:"God. When it came to “real life,” Esau saw little place for God. ",p:38,x:105,y:733,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Esau knew, ",p:38,x:105,y:761,w:83,h:23},
{t:"It matters not how straight the gate,  ",p:38,x:135,y:796,w:263,h:23},
{t:"How charged with punishment the scroll,  ",p:38,x:135,y:823,w:303,h:23},
{t:"I am the master of my fate: ",p:38,x:135,y:851,w:196,h:23},
{t:"I am the captain of my soul. ",p:38,x:135,y:878,w:203,h:23},
{t:"(“Invictus,” by William Henley) ",p:38,x:299,y:906,w:230,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:39,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"24",p:39,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"At frst reading this might sound like the stuf of great novels: ",p:39,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"a practical man or woman governed by self-confdence and a ",p:39,x:105,y:143,w:457,h:23},
{t:"strategic plan of action. But to God it sounds the death knell to ",p:39,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"a life of useful service.",p:39,x:105,y:198,w:154,h:23},
{t:"Esau ’s brother, Jacob, was devious and manipulative, a liar ",p:39,x:134,y:226,w:425,h:23},
{t:"and a cheat. Surely God could not make anything useful of ",p:39,x:105,y:253,w:457,h:23},
{t:"this man! If we could choose one of these men for a neighbor, ",p:39,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"straightforward Esau would be preferred to scheming Jacob. ",p:39,x:105,y:308,w:458,h:23},
{t:"Yet the Lord recognized the potential within Jacob to become ",p:39,x:105,y:336,w:456,h:23},
{t:"someone much more efective in the kingdom of God. Under ",p:39,x:105,y:363,w:456,h:23},
{t:"the surface God saw a person who could passionately love and ",p:39,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"serve him.",p:39,x:105,y:418,w:72,h:23},
{t:"In Genesis 32 the Lord wrestled with Jacob; and Jacob clung ",p:39,x:134,y:446,w:423,h:23},
{t:"to God until he received a blessing. Ten God changed his name ",p:39,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"from Jacob, which means “deceiver,” to Israel, which means “one ",p:39,x:105,y:501,w:453,h:23},
{t:"who has struggled with God.” During their struggle the Lord ",p:39,x:105,y:528,w:456,h:23},
{t:"wrenched Jacob ’s hip out of joint. Tis man would walk with ",p:39,x:105,y:556,w:456,h:23},
{t:"a limp for the rest of his life as a constant reminder of the one ",p:39,x:105,y:583,w:455,h:23},
{t:"who was now in control. Te only hope for Jacob, this master ",p:39,x:105,y:611,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of deception, lay in his being conquered. God defeated Jacob so ",p:39,x:105,y:638,w:454,h:23},
{t:"that he might become a new man. Talk about a paradox!",p:39,x:105,y:666,w:398,h:23},
{t:"God looks at us with a similar gaze—not only seeing what ",p:39,x:134,y:693,w:425,h:23},
{t:"we are but also all that we can become. Tat is what he wants ",p:39,x:105,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to do for us. Stubborn, self-willed, rebellious Jacob/Israel always ",p:39,x:105,y:748,w:454,h:23},
{t:"had a limp to remind him that he was on the road to becoming a ",p:39,x:105,y:776,w:453,h:23},
{t:"useful and dignifed friend of God. Tat is the way of the cross. ",p:39,x:105,y:803,w:454,h:23},
{t:"It destroys confdence in our feshly abilities and renders us totally ",p:39,x:105,y:831,w:456,h:23},
{t:"dependent on the power of God’s Spirit.",p:39,x:105,y:858,w:264,h:23},
{t:"25",p:40,x:542,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"CRUCIFIED",p:40,x:490,y:64,w:55,h:21},
{t:"Only when we have been conquered can we truly be blessed. ",p:40,x:135,y:116,w:423,h:23},
{t:"Only then will we know the joys and triumphs as well as the ",p:40,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"pain of a crucifed life. Only then will we walk with a limp so ",p:40,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"others will know that we have been mastered by God. Such a ",p:40,x:105,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"state is rarely rewarded with popular accolades or much fanfare. ",p:40,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Our lives may not appear to produce spectacular results, but our ",p:40,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"rewards remain a gift from God, whose cross we can now share. ",p:40,x:105,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Tis path is not reserved for great apostles, such as Peter and ",p:40,x:105,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Paul. It is the same path that humble pilgrims today can follow.",p:40,x:105,y:336,w:447,h:23},
{t:"I think of Hubert and Junie Morquette. Both are natives of ",p:40,x:135,y:363,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Haiti, a nation considered to be third-world within its region ",p:40,x:105,y:391,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and the HIV/AIDS capital of the Caribbean. Hubert and Junie ",p:40,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"graduated as medical doctors and surgeons from the historic ",p:40,x:105,y:446,w:457,h:23},
{t:"University of Paris. Tey had the world at their feet. But they ",p:40,x:105,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"laid prestige, power, fnances, and friendship aside to do what ",p:40,x:105,y:501,w:456,h:23},
{t:"God told them to do.",p:40,x:105,y:528,w:152,h:23},
{t:"As an aside, we often think of those who leav e friends, family",p:40,x:135,y:556,w:420,h:23},
{t:", ",p:40,x:550,y:556,w:8,h:23},
{t:"and their country as the only “her oes” for Jesus. No doubt, there ",p:40,x:105,y:583,w:455,h:23},
{t:"is heroism in those who follo w God’s call to sacrifce the familiar",p:40,x:105,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"for an unknown life far away . Yet there is also a quiet her oism in ",p:40,x:105,y:638,w:456,h:23},
{t:"staying where God has planted you, which can also be a sacrifce, ",p:40,x:105,y:666,w:460,h:23},
{t:"and patiently serving God with little recognition for the life y ou ",p:40,x:105,y:693,w:455,h:23},
{t:"have laid down for him. ",p:40,x:105,y:721,w:171,h:23},
{t:"Consider again the husband and wife physicians. Unknown ",p:40,x:135,y:748,w:424,h:23},
{t:"to the rest of the world, they can still be found in Haiti—serving ",p:40,x:105,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"God, healing their people, living the crucifed life, and rejecting ",p:40,x:105,y:803,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the glittering prizes that would otherwise be theirs. Tey know ",p:40,x:105,y:831,w:455,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:41,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"26",p:41,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"there will be plenty of time to receive heaven ’s greater rewards. ",p:41,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"To thousands of sick children, poverty-stricken widows, AIDS ",p:41,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"suferers, and people with unfulflled potential, this crucifed ",p:41,x:105,y:171,w:457,h:23},
{t:"man and woman bring hope, a future, and the love of Jesus.",p:41,x:105,y:198,w:422,h:23},
{t:"Prayer ",p:41,x:105,y:283,w:75,h:38},
{t:" Lord, it seems such a contradiction that you ",p:41,x:196,y:290,w:365,h:28},
{t:"want me to live a crucifed life so that I may know the joy of ",p:41,x:104,y:321,w:456,h:23},
{t:"your resurrection power. I’m not even sure that I know what that ",p:41,x:104,y:348,w:453,h:23},
{t:"will mean for me, but I want more of your empowerment in my ",p:41,x:104,y:376,w:454,h:23},
{t:"life—whatever the consequences. Please help me to continually ",p:41,x:104,y:403,w:455,h:23},
{t:"take up my cross, and fll me daily with your new life. Amen.",p:41,x:104,y:431,w:431,h:23},
{t:"27",p:42,x:542,y:935,w:11,h:19},
{t:"CHAPTER THREE",p:42,x:105,y:240,w:66,h:14},
{t:"Surrender",p:42,x:105,y:292,w:192,h:69},
{t:"THE ART OF ST",p:42,x:172,y:380,w:125,h:34},
{t:"ARTING OVER",p:42,x:315,y:380,w:111,h:34},
{t:"My children always called him Mikey-Moo. It was ",p:42,x:165,y:489,w:396,h:69},
{t:"their afectionate nickname for our family friend ",p:42,x:201,y:529,w:359,h:23},
{t:"who, with his wife Katey, lived just around the corner as our ",p:42,x:105,y:556,w:456,h:23},
{t:"kids were growing up. When Mike enrolled as a history student ",p:42,x:105,y:584,w:454,h:23},
{t:"at Oxford University, he had no idea that he would meet Jesus ",p:42,x:105,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and dedicate his future to him. When I met Mike, he had been ",p:42,x:105,y:639,w:454,h:23},
{t:"a Christian for just three months.",p:42,x:105,y:666,w:236,h:23},
{t:"I have watched Mike walk through life. In my role as pastor, ",p:42,x:134,y:694,w:424,h:23},
{t:"I married Mike and Katey and saw them enter a life of Christian ",p:42,x:105,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"ministry. I remember praying with them that their lives might ",p:42,x:105,y:749,w:455,h:23},
{t:"become emptied of themselves and flled with the Holy Spirit. ",p:42,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Tis was a time of joy and excitement, brimming with anticipa-",p:42,x:105,y:804,w:449,h:23},
{t:"tion for all that the future would hold for the two of them.",p:42,x:105,y:831,w:415,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:43,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"28",p:43,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"Mike was dedicated in his work for the Lord: frst as the ad-",p:43,x:135,y:116,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ministrator who launched Spring Harvest, the largest Christian ",p:43,x:105,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"festival in Europe; next as the advocate who established the ",p:43,x:105,y:171,w:458,h:23},
{t:"Religious Liberty Commission of the World Evangelical ",p:43,x:105,y:198,w:463,h:23},
{t:"Fellowship; and then as an entrepreneur who established, guided, ",p:43,x:105,y:226,w:453,h:23},
{t:"motivated, and supported many individuals and ministries. My ",p:43,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"afable, warm, genial, and sometimes eccentric friend—who ",p:43,x:105,y:281,w:459,h:23},
{t:"comes about as close to being a genius as anyone I know—really ",p:43,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"made an impact in the service of his Lord.",p:43,x:105,y:336,w:297,h:23},
{t:"My wife, Ruth, and I have also walked with Mike and ",p:43,x:135,y:363,w:427,h:23},
{t:"Katey in the midst of some gr eat disappointments. Tey felt ",p:43,x:105,y:391,w:456,h:23},
{t:"anguish as they dealt with infer tility and the realization that ",p:43,x:105,y:418,w:456,h:23},
{t:"they would not have their own children. Later, when we were ",p:43,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"on vacation with them in France, Katey stumbled during a ",p:43,x:105,y:473,w:457,h:23},
{t:"walk. Shortly thereafter multiple scler osis began to loom large ",p:43,x:105,y:501,w:450,h:23},
{t:"in their lives. We watched the virulence of the disease destr oy ",p:43,x:105,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"frst Katey ’s body, then her memory. I witnessed Mike’s com-",p:43,x:105,y:556,w:449,h:23},
{t:"passion through years of nursing his wife, until doing so was ",p:43,x:105,y:583,w:448,h:23},
{t:"no longer possible.",p:43,x:105,y:611,w:132,h:23},
{t:"I know this man well. Mike embodies the reality of a rela-",p:43,x:135,y:638,w:419,h:23},
{t:"tionship with Jesus. I sense that the person I knew as a student ",p:43,x:105,y:666,w:455,h:23},
{t:"at Oxford University is not the same one I know now. Beyond ",p:43,x:105,y:693,w:455,h:23},
{t:"his initial decision to follow Christ, Mike absolutely understands ",p:43,x:105,y:721,w:453,h:23},
{t:"what it means to live a crucifed life, and—as he visits Katey in ",p:43,x:105,y:748,w:455,h:23},
{t:"a nursing home—he is readily able to describe the meaning of ",p:43,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"this experience.",p:43,x:105,y:803,w:108,h:23},
{t:"Mike doesn ’t agree with the idea that Jesus intends for us to ",p:43,x:135,y:831,w:424,h:23},
{t:"enjoy a life of undisturbed comfort and success. He is amused ",p:43,x:105,y:858,w:455,h:23},
{t:"29",p:44,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"SURRENDER",p:44,x:481,y:64,w:63,h:21},
{t:"by TV evangelists who assure that one only needs more faith in ",p:44,x:104,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"order to have a wonderful life.",p:44,x:104,y:143,w:213,h:23},
{t:"While walking with God, has Mike made mistakes and ",p:44,x:134,y:171,w:428,h:23},
{t:"faltered at times? Yes. But he kept going, and each step brought ",p:44,x:104,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"lessons from God that deepened him along his journey. Because ",p:44,x:104,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of this, Mike has survived tremendous pain with a spirit of joy. ",p:44,x:104,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Tis is no mere human efort. It is a perseverance that is divine ",p:44,x:104,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"in origin; it comes as a gift from the Holy Spirit; it is an inner ",p:44,x:104,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"fortitude that springs from a long walk with God.",p:44,x:104,y:336,w:351,h:23},
{t:"Te idea of a shared crucifxion makes sense to Mike. Te ",p:44,x:134,y:363,w:425,h:23},
{t:"Savior who died for him now calls him to a crucifed life, where ",p:44,x:104,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"each moment of crucifxion introduces a new instance of resur-",p:44,x:104,y:418,w:449,h:23},
{t:"rection. You see, the life of faith does not stop when you meet ",p:44,x:104,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Jesus—that is when it begins.",p:44,x:104,y:473,w:207,h:23},
{t:"An Ongoing R elationship",p:44,x:185,y:524,w:277,h:30},
{t:"We might refer to the moment we began our relationship ",p:44,x:135,y:565,w:426,h:23},
{t:"with Jesus in a way that sounds like the culmination of our ",p:44,x:105,y:593,w:457,h:23},
{t:"previous life rather than the beginning of our new life. Placing ",p:44,x:105,y:620,w:455,h:23},
{t:"too much stress on our initiation to faith makes the introduction",p:44,x:105,y:648,w:450,h:23},
{t:"appear to be the whole story. Paul’s blazing moment of revela-",p:44,x:105,y:675,w:449,h:23},
{t:"tion on the Damascus road (Acts 9:5) happened perhaps eight ",p:44,x:105,y:703,w:455,h:23},
{t:"years before he and Barnabas formed a ministry team together. ",p:44,x:105,y:730,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Tese were eight years of patient discipleship as God shaped ",p:44,x:105,y:758,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Paul’s inner nature.",p:44,x:105,y:785,w:135,h:23},
{t:"Tink of a marriage. Tose of us with married children, ",p:44,x:135,y:813,w:427,h:23},
{t:"especially daughters, know about “wedding fever.” A staggering ",p:44,x:105,y:840,w:455,h:23},
{t:"amount of money can be spent to support this one life-changing ",p:44,x:105,y:868,w:454,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:45,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"30",p:45,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"day! You learn enough about bridesmaids’ dresses, invitations, ",p:45,x:105,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"photographs, speeches, rehearsals, and receptions to last a life-",p:45,x:105,y:143,w:449,h:23},
{t:"time. Tere is reason, of course, to celebrate and remember. But ",p:45,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"though the wedding is important, it marks only the beginning; ",p:45,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"life together will become the real marriage. ",p:45,x:105,y:226,w:306,h:23},
{t:"Some people live their Christian life based on their recol-",p:45,x:134,y:253,w:419,h:23},
{t:"lection of how it frst began. If we are married we need to pay ",p:45,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"attention to what our relationship is like now rather than resting ",p:45,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"on the memory of the wedding day. How long can a marriage ",p:45,x:105,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"remain vibrant if it consists only of wedding reminiscences and ",p:45,x:105,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"photographs? When we become Christians, we enter an eternal ",p:45,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"marriage. If we rely only on the moment we come to faith, we ",p:45,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"miss the ongoing richness of the relationship. True conversion is ",p:45,x:105,y:446,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the doorway to lifelong discipleship. Both are essential.",p:45,x:105,y:473,w:388,h:23},
{t:"Te English preacher and author John Stott has stressed ",p:45,x:134,y:501,w:427,h:23},
{t:"that we need to know that Christianity is more than a one-time ",p:45,x:105,y:528,w:454,h:23},
{t:"experience—it is ongoing. He has often said, “I have been saved, ",p:45,x:105,y:556,w:453,h:23},
{t:"I am being saved, and I am going to be saved.” Stott admits that ",p:45,x:105,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"this emphasis didn ’t originate with him. When preaching at the ",p:45,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"1979 Urbana Convention he said, “I am myself always grateful ",p:45,x:105,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to the good man who led me to Christ over forty years ago that ",p:45,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"he taught me, raw and brash convert that I was, to keep saying: ‘I ",p:45,x:105,y:693,w:453,h:23},
{t:"have been saved (in the past) from the penalty of sin by a cruci-",p:45,x:105,y:721,w:449,h:23},
{t:"fed Savior. I am being saved (in the present) from the power of ",p:45,x:105,y:748,w:454,h:23},
{t:"sin by a living Savior. And I shall be saved (in the future) from ",p:45,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the very presence of sin by a coming Savior.’”1 ",p:45,x:105,y:803,w:329,h:23},
{t:"1.",p:45,x:105,y:866,w:11,h:19},
{t:" John Stott, “Te Messenger and God, Part 4: God’s People (Romans ",p:45,x:123,y:866,w:401,h:19},
{t:"5:1–11)” sermon at 1979 Urbana Convention, Urbana-Champaign, IL, ",p:45,x:105,y:886,w:418,h:19},
{t:"31",p:46,x:542,y:935,w:11,h:19},
{t:"SURRENDER",p:46,x:481,y:64,w:63,h:21},
{t:"Starting Ov er",p:46,x:253,y:115,w:151,h:30},
{t:"If you want to start a new life, there is no better place to ",p:46,x:135,y:156,w:426,h:23},
{t:"begin than with Jesus. “In him was life, and that life was the light ",p:46,x:105,y:183,w:453,h:23},
{t:"of men” (John 1:4). Jesus told a religious leader that he needed ",p:46,x:105,y:211,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to start life afresh. He needed to be “born again” (John 3:3). But ",p:46,x:105,y:238,w:454,h:23},
{t:"there is more: “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus ",p:46,x:105,y:266,w:454,h:23},
{t:"did” (1 John 2:6).",p:46,x:105,y:293,w:126,h:23},
{t:"Jesus arrived at the shore of the Sea of Galilee and called ",p:46,x:135,y:321,w:426,h:23},
{t:"some fshermen to follow him (Matthew 4:18–22; Luke 5:1–11). ",p:46,x:105,y:348,w:453,h:23},
{t:"While the call took only a moment, Jesus then invested three ",p:46,x:105,y:376,w:456,h:23},
{t:"years teaching these men and showing them how to live their ",p:46,x:105,y:403,w:456,h:23},
{t:"lives in a radically diferent way.",p:46,x:105,y:431,w:224,h:23},
{t:"Consider these two questions:",p:46,x:135,y:458,w:211,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:46,x:135,y:493,w:11,h:23},
{t:"What was the starting point of their journey? Tey left ",p:46,x:164,y:493,w:389,h:23},
{t:"their boats and nets. ",p:46,x:164,y:521,w:147,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:46,x:135,y:548,w:11,h:23},
{t:"What came next? Tey started to follow Jesus.",p:46,x:164,y:548,w:317,h:23},
{t:"What does it mean for us today when we respond to God’s ",p:46,x:135,y:583,w:425,h:23},
{t:"call? Some suggest that our response to Jesus is only that we ",p:46,x:105,y:611,w:457,h:23},
{t:"“accept” him. Tis is a very diferent message than the call to ",p:46,x:105,y:638,w:456,h:23},
{t:"be “born again,” which is entering into a personal relationship ",p:46,x:105,y:666,w:455,h:23},
{t:"with Jesus Christ. Do we control the time, place, circumstances, ",p:46,x:105,y:693,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and conditions of becoming a Christian? No! How we come to ",p:46,x:105,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Christ never depends on our preferences, but rather it depends ",p:46,x:105,y:748,w:455,h:23},
{t:"on his leading. Scripture calls us “servants” of Jesus (Romans ",p:46,x:105,y:776,w:457,h:23},
{t:"1:1) and “slaves” of God (Romans 6:22). Slaves don ’t negotiate ",p:46,x:105,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"http://www.urbana.org/_articles.cfm?RecordId=1088.",p:46,x:105,y:886,w:311,h:19},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:47,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"32",p:47,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"a contract with their master; they simply obey their master’s ",p:47,x:105,y:116,w:457,h:23},
{t:"instructions.",p:47,x:105,y:143,w:88,h:23},
{t:"Te question is not “Will the sinner accept the Savior?” but ",p:47,x:134,y:171,w:424,h:23},
{t:"“Will the Savior accept the sinner?” Te idea of “accepting Jesus ",p:47,x:105,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"as Savior” is not refected in any Bible verse. Instead, throughout ",p:47,x:105,y:226,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Scripture God reiterates that he will welcome us to himself. We ",p:47,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"are to respond to his love and reject all other alternatives. ",p:47,x:105,y:281,w:406,h:23},
{t:"Words can convey diferent meanings to diferent genera-",p:47,x:134,y:308,w:419,h:23},
{t:"tions. Te connotation behind the phrases “accepting Jesus” and ",p:47,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"“receiving Christ” can convey far more than the words them-",p:47,x:105,y:363,w:449,h:23},
{t:"selves. Faithful, sincere preachers have adopted these phrases ",p:47,x:105,y:391,w:458,h:23},
{t:"because of the emphasis placed on God’s initiative and grace. ",p:47,x:105,y:418,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Many of us have been steeped in this language and have begun ",p:47,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"genuine journeys of faith as a result of it. However, in an increas-",p:47,x:105,y:473,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ingly secular world the notion of “accepting” Jesus tends to com-",p:47,x:105,y:501,w:449,h:23},
{t:"municate cheap grace and a casual attitude toward the Christian ",p:47,x:105,y:528,w:454,h:23},
{t:"life. Crucifed love demands much more from us. While most ",p:47,x:105,y:556,w:456,h:23},
{t:"believers who use these terms acknowledge that coming to Christ ",p:47,x:105,y:583,w:453,h:23},
{t:"entails sacrifcing ourselves to him and for him, our words need ",p:47,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to convey that truth clearly. ",p:47,x:105,y:638,w:199,h:23},
{t:"Te idea of “accepting Jesus” may have successfully ",p:47,x:134,y:666,w:432,h:23},
{t:"launched many of us on our spiritual journey . But the phrase ",p:47,x:105,y:693,w:453,h:23},
{t:"itself sounds a little patr onizing, for we are not doing God ",p:47,x:105,y:721,w:457,h:23},
{t:"a favor by ofering him partnership in our lives. Phrases like ",p:47,x:105,y:748,w:454,h:23},
{t:"“committing our lives to Jesus” or “surrendering control of ",p:47,x:105,y:776,w:457,h:23},
{t:"our lives to Christ” more closely conveys what we mean to a ",p:47,x:105,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"twenty-frst century world. ",p:47,x:105,y:831,w:197,h:23},
{t:"33",p:48,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"SURRENDER",p:48,x:481,y:64,w:63,h:21},
{t:"We can never hope to welcome the King of kings, the Lord ",p:48,x:135,y:116,w:424,h:23},
{t:"of lords, the one and only Son of God into our lives on our ",p:48,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"terms. If Jesus is our Savior, then he must also live and reign in ",p:48,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"us as Lord of every area of our lives. Te words we choose must ",p:48,x:105,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"make that demand obvious and explicit. Jesus gave his life for us, ",p:48,x:105,y:226,w:453,h:23},
{t:"and he requires the same of us in return. ",p:48,x:105,y:253,w:289,h:23},
{t:"Too Much “Easy-Believism",p:48,x:172,y:304,w:281,h:30},
{t:"”",p:48,x:476,y:304,w:11,h:30},
{t:"When an earthquake caused a jailer in Philippi to ask the ",p:48,x:135,y:345,w:426,h:23},
{t:"critical question, “What must I do to be saved?” the apostle ",p:48,x:105,y:373,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Paul’s reply was brief and to the point: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, ",p:48,x:105,y:400,w:453,h:23},
{t:"and you will be saved” (Acts 16:30–31). Did Paul mean then ",p:48,x:105,y:428,w:456,h:23},
{t:"what we would understand from that statement today? Probably ",p:48,x:105,y:455,w:454,h:23},
{t:"not. But Paul and Silas didn ’t leave it at that. Te jailer took ",p:48,x:105,y:483,w:456,h:23},
{t:"them to his home, and they “spoke the word of the Lord to ",p:48,x:105,y:510,w:457,h:23},
{t:"him and to all the others in his house” (Acts 16:32). Only after ",p:48,x:105,y:538,w:455,h:23},
{t:"that further explanation was the jailer, and his family, baptized ",p:48,x:105,y:565,w:455,h:23},
{t:"(Acts 16:33–34). Surely hearing more than “Believe in the Lord ",p:48,x:105,y:593,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Jesus” was necessary, particularly if they had never before heard ",p:48,x:105,y:620,w:455,h:23},
{t:"of Jesus. And Paul and Silas certainly would have noted the sig-",p:48,x:105,y:648,w:449,h:23},
{t:"nifcance—and the cost—of the action these people were taking. ",p:48,x:105,y:675,w:453,h:23},
{t:"After all, this same Paul insisted that baptism is a sign of dying to ",p:48,x:105,y:703,w:453,h:23},
{t:"ourselves that we might live for God (Romans 6:3–4).",p:48,x:105,y:730,w:381,h:23},
{t:"My father was a Christian. M",p:48,x:135,y:758,w:215,h:23},
{t:"any years ago I asked him",p:48,x:359,y:758,w:188,h:23},
{t:"this question: “",p:48,x:105,y:785,w:105,h:23},
{t:"What does believe mean to you as a member of",p:48,x:216,y:785,w:332,h:23},
{t:"your generation?” H",p:48,x:105,y:813,w:144,h:23},
{t:"e replied, “I t means a total and complete ",p:48,x:255,y:813,w:294,h:23},
{t:"surrender of y our life to J esus Christ, r ecognizing that he died",p:48,x:105,y:840,w:441,h:23},
{t:"because he lo ves you, and asking him to shar",p:48,x:105,y:868,w:335,h:23},
{t:"e his life with ",p:48,x:449,y:868,w:111,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:49,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"34",p:49,x:105,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"you by living in you as your Lord and Savior.” Te Greek verb ",p:49,x:105,y:116,w:453,h:23},
{t:"we translate as “believ",p:49,x:105,y:143,w:156,h:23},
{t:"e,” pisteuo, has precisely that meaning!",p:49,x:269,y:143,w:278,h:23},
{t:"Implying more than mere rational agr eement, it includes ",p:49,x:105,y:171,w:452,h:23},
{t:"a sense of trust arising from a personal r elationship . Tis ",p:49,x:105,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"meaning is r efected in the N ew Testament, since the v",p:49,x:105,y:226,w:402,h:23},
{t:"erb is ",p:49,x:514,y:226,w:43,h:23},
{t:"commonly follo wed by a preposition: “believ",p:49,x:105,y:253,w:326,h:23},
{t:"e in.” ",p:49,x:437,y:253,w:44,h:23},
{t:"Unfortunately, for many the word believe may only indicate ",p:49,x:134,y:281,w:424,h:23},
{t:"that someone has a basic recognition of certain truths. It can ",p:49,x:105,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"convey an intellectual acceptance rather than a radical commit-",p:49,x:105,y:336,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ment to a changed lifestyle. Te devil believes there is a God, ",p:49,x:105,y:363,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and he cannot deny the existence of Jesus; but that hardly quali-",p:49,x:105,y:391,w:449,h:23},
{t:"fes Satan to be called a “believer” or a “Christian!” We have so ",p:49,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"simplifed the meaning of the words believe and belief that one ",p:49,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"could conclude that head knowledge equals conversion! Viewed ",p:49,x:104,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"that way, no radical change in lifestyle or perspective would be ",p:49,x:104,y:501,w:455,h:23},
{t:"required.",p:49,x:104,y:528,w:63,h:23},
{t:"However, that is not God’s perspective as revealed in the ",p:49,x:134,y:556,w:427,h:23},
{t:"Bible. Te writers of the New Testament clearly understood that ",p:49,x:104,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the call to believe was also a call to discipleship. Nowhere is this ",p:49,x:104,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"more pronounced than in Jesus’ teaching. Time and again he ",p:49,x:104,y:638,w:456,h:23},
{t:"declared the need for his followers to deny themselves and take ",p:49,x:104,y:666,w:455,h:23},
{t:"up their cross. Tis clearly spells out the terms and conditions for ",p:49,x:104,y:693,w:453,h:23},
{t:"us to fnd new life in Jesus. Tese conditions are nonnegotiable ",p:49,x:104,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"for a relationship with Christ, and they include the cost of daily ",p:49,x:104,y:748,w:454,h:23},
{t:"crucifying our old life and resurrecting into a new way of living. ",p:49,x:104,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Jesus ofers no simple, prepackaged belief system to buy into, ",p:49,x:104,y:803,w:456,h:23},
{t:"no mere easygoing acceptance. As he starkly said, “Anyone who ",p:49,x:104,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"35",p:50,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"SURRENDER",p:50,x:481,y:64,w:63,h:21},
{t:"does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” ",p:50,x:104,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"(Luke 14:27).",p:50,x:104,y:143,w:97,h:23},
{t:"Complete S",p:50,x:215,y:194,w:118,h:30},
{t:"urrender",p:50,x:346,y:194,w:92,h:30},
{t:"At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the British ",p:50,x:135,y:235,w:428,h:23},
{t:"admiral Lord Nelson defeated a French captain in a naval battle. ",p:50,x:105,y:263,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Te captain boarded Nelson ’s ship to surrender, expecting to be ",p:50,x:105,y:290,w:454,h:23},
{t:"ofered sympathetic condolences and a glass of wine. But, before ",p:50,x:105,y:318,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the hospitality could begin, he was greeted with a demand for his ",p:50,x:105,y:345,w:453,h:23},
{t:"sword. Te captain was asked to demonstrate his willingness to ",p:50,x:105,y:373,w:455,h:23},
{t:"give up the fght and surrender the battle to Lord Nelson.",p:50,x:105,y:400,w:406,h:23},
{t:"Jesus asks us for complete surrender to his will and purpose ",p:50,x:135,y:428,w:424,h:23},
{t:"for our lives. How do I live out this attitude of surrender? Is ",p:50,x:105,y:455,w:456,h:23},
{t:"it just a matter of adopting a regimen of spiritual disciplines? ",p:50,x:105,y:483,w:456,h:23},
{t:"No, the crucifed life is far more than that! It is all-consuming, ",p:50,x:105,y:510,w:455,h:23},
{t:"all-transforming, and totally diferent. It involves both giving ",p:50,x:105,y:538,w:457,h:23},
{t:"and receiving. First I must surrender to God total control of my ",p:50,x:105,y:565,w:454,h:23},
{t:"life—two kings cannot reign alongside each other. My require-",p:50,x:105,y:593,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ments are a broken spirit, contrite heart, and an emptying of my ",p:50,x:105,y:620,w:454,h:23},
{t:"ambitions so that he can bring his life into me and live through ",p:50,x:105,y:648,w:454,h:23},
{t:"me.",p:50,x:105,y:675,w:26,h:23},
{t:"Jesus calls people not to “accept” him, gain a blessing, join ",p:50,x:135,y:703,w:425,h:23},
{t:"a club, or even acknowledge who he is. Instead, he calls us to go ",p:50,x:105,y:730,w:454,h:23},
{t:"further and follow him.",p:50,x:105,y:758,w:166,h:23},
{t:"True belief is easy to identify. When it is in place, you will:",p:50,x:135,y:785,w:413,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:50,x:135,y:820,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Open your life to Jesus in simple trust and ",p:50,x:164,y:820,w:304,h:23},
{t:"commitment.",p:50,x:164,y:848,w:96,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:50,x:135,y:875,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Surrender control and authority of your life to Jesus.",p:50,x:164,y:875,w:370,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:51,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"36",p:51,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"•	",p:51,x:135,y:116,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Obey Jesus in every area of your life.",p:51,x:164,y:116,w:257,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:51,x:135,y:143,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Respond to Jesus’ guidance with a life of active ",p:51,x:164,y:143,w:334,h:23},
{t:"discipleship.",p:51,x:164,y:171,w:86,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:51,x:135,y:198,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Fall more and more in love with Jesus.",p:51,x:164,y:198,w:270,h:23},
{t:"Te call to discipleship represents a call to self-denial. As ",p:51,x:135,y:233,w:427,h:23},
{t:"many people like Mike have discovered, the reality of giving way ",p:51,x:105,y:261,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to Christ and giving in to Christ is a lifelong journey. Instead of ",p:51,x:105,y:288,w:454,h:23},
{t:"expanding our own ambitions and desires—or expecting God to ",p:51,x:105,y:316,w:453,h:23},
{t:"further them for us—we are called to surrender all that we have ",p:51,x:105,y:343,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and are to the Lord Jesus. We are called to trust him.",p:51,x:105,y:371,w:362,h:23},
{t:"Relaxing into J",p:51,x:221,y:422,w:153,h:30},
{t:"esus",p:51,x:392,y:422,w:42,h:30},
{t:"Te frst spiritual discipline Jesus modeled was submission. ",p:51,x:135,y:463,w:425,h:23},
{t:"Jesus submitted to his Father, living a life of surrender to his will. ",p:51,x:105,y:490,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Charles Swindoll points out, “As our example, Jesus modeled ",p:51,x:105,y:518,w:456,h:23},
{t:"trust in the Father. He came to the planet that he had made and ",p:51,x:105,y:545,w:454,h:23},
{t:"lived his entire life misunderstood, misrepresented, misquoted, ",p:51,x:105,y:573,w:455,h:23},
{t:"mistreated and fnally crucifed. Yet he committed no sin. From ",p:51,x:105,y:600,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Bethlehem ’s manger to Golgotha ’s cross, Jesus exemplifed a life ",p:51,x:105,y:628,w:455,h:23},
{t:"of surrender.”2 Trust in God is necessary in surrendering to him ",p:51,x:105,y:655,w:454,h:23},
{t:"total control of our lives.",p:51,x:105,y:683,w:174,h:23},
{t:"What does it mean to trust someone? I illustrated the con-",p:51,x:134,y:710,w:419,h:23},
{t:"cept during one of my sermons when I asked Tom—a builder ",p:51,x:105,y:738,w:456,h:23},
{t:"in my congregation—to join me at the front of the church. I ",p:51,x:105,y:765,w:456,h:23},
{t:"had Tom turn his back to me. Ten I asked, “Tom, do you trust ",p:51,x:105,y:793,w:454,h:23},
{t:"2.",p:51,x:105,y:866,w:11,h:19},
{t:" Charles Swindoll, So You Want to Be Like Christ? (Nashville: Tomas ",p:51,x:123,y:866,w:400,h:19},
{t:"Nelson, 2005), 86.",p:51,x:105,y:886,w:109,h:19},
{t:"37",p:52,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"SURRENDER",p:52,x:481,y:64,w:63,h:21},
{t:"me?” and I told him to relax and fall backwards into my arms. ",p:52,x:104,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Te foor was hard, so it would hurt if I didn ’t catch him; and ",p:52,x:104,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"everyone would be watching if he made a fool of himself. Tere ",p:52,x:104,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"was a moment of silence, and then Tom just relaxed into my ",p:52,x:104,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"arms.",p:52,x:104,y:226,w:38,h:23},
{t:"Jesus likewise calls us to trust him—both when things go ",p:52,x:134,y:253,w:426,h:23},
{t:"well and when they fall apart. Look at how Jesus established his ",p:52,x:104,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"trustworthiness as he loved the unlovely, obeyed his Father, and ",p:52,x:104,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"instructed his followers. Trough his life on earth he taught us ",p:52,x:104,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"how to trust him with our possessions, our positions, our plans, ",p:52,x:104,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and our families. ",p:52,x:104,y:391,w:123,h:23},
{t:"Our natural self is programmed for self-preservation. It is ",p:52,x:134,y:418,w:426,h:23},
{t:"an incredible challenge for us to surrender our health, marriage, ",p:52,x:104,y:446,w:454,h:23},
{t:"reputation, ministry, friends, routine, and independence. Tese ",p:52,x:104,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"things defne us. But they are all gifts from the Father. We need ",p:52,x:104,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to discipline ourselves to hold them loosely (and with gratitude) ",p:52,x:104,y:528,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and to not love them more than the one who gives “every good ",p:52,x:104,y:556,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and perfect gift” (James 1:17). ",p:52,x:104,y:583,w:218,h:23},
{t:"Matt, an eighteen-year-old neighbor of mine, was running ",p:52,x:134,y:611,w:425,h:23},
{t:"late as he pulled his car out of his driveway. He was on his way to ",p:52,x:104,y:638,w:453,h:23},
{t:"witness his best friend’s baptism, a special event that Matt didn ’t ",p:52,x:104,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"want to miss. Driving too fast, he lost control of the car as it slid ",p:52,x:104,y:693,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of the road and fipped over into a stream. When the car came ",p:52,x:104,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to a stop, Matt was hanging upside down and unable to escape, ",p:52,x:104,y:748,w:454,h:23},
{t:"despite his signifcant eforts. ",p:52,x:104,y:776,w:209,h:23},
{t:"Suspended there, helpless and with time to think, Matt ad-",p:52,x:134,y:803,w:419,h:23},
{t:"mits it wasn ’t a good time. But he quickly adds, “I wouldn ’t have ",p:52,x:104,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"missed it for anything!” In those moments of utter helplessness ",p:52,x:104,y:858,w:455,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:53,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"38",p:53,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"Matt realized he had already handed control of his life over to ",p:53,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Jesus. Someone else was with him in his predicament. Matt’s life ",p:53,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"relaxed into the life of another, one who had rescued him even ",p:53,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"before the rescuers arrived.",p:53,x:105,y:198,w:188,h:23},
{t:"Tis relationship of loving surrender and trust does not ",p:53,x:134,y:226,w:428,h:23},
{t:"diminish us. Instead, it ofers us the security of knowing that the ",p:53,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"King of kings, the creator of the universe, is living in us. Without ",p:53,x:105,y:281,w:453,h:23},
{t:"that attitude of surrender we could never discover the life of ",p:53,x:105,y:308,w:457,h:23},
{t:"adventure that God intends for those who entrust their destiny ",p:53,x:105,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to him. Beginning with our initial surrender—and continuing ",p:53,x:105,y:363,w:456,h:23},
{t:"until our fnal entry into eternity with him—surrender does not ",p:53,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"mean captivity, but freedom. It means we will never walk alone.",p:53,x:105,y:418,w:449,h:23},
{t:"Prayer ",p:53,x:105,y:503,w:75,h:38},
{t:" Lord, may I see you more clearly, love you more ",p:53,x:192,y:510,w:366,h:28},
{t:"dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. Teach me to ",p:53,x:104,y:541,w:457,h:23},
{t:"listen for your guidance and to ask for it in the details of my ",p:53,x:104,y:568,w:456,h:23},
{t:"daily life. I give you permission to shape my inner being so that ",p:53,x:104,y:596,w:454,h:23},
{t:"my desires are increasingly those of your heart. Please take all ",p:53,x:104,y:623,w:456,h:23},
{t:"that I am, and enable me to become all that I can be as I relax ",p:53,x:104,y:651,w:455,h:23},
{t:"into your love, life, and will. Amen.",p:53,x:104,y:678,w:252,h:23},
{t:"39",p:54,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"CHAPTER FOUR",p:54,x:105,y:240,w:61,h:14},
{t:"Disciple",p:54,x:105,y:292,w:143,h:69},
{t:"SOLD OUT",p:54,x:210,y:380,w:83,h:34},
{t:"My son Gavin is tall and strong. But since he doesn ’t ",p:54,x:165,y:489,w:394,h:69},
{t:"have the slender build of a typical distance runner, ",p:54,x:201,y:529,w:357,h:23},
{t:"our family was a little taken aback when Gavin announced that ",p:54,x:105,y:556,w:454,h:23},
{t:"he was going to run a marathon to raise money for charity. No ",p:54,x:105,y:584,w:455,h:23},
{t:"one questioned, however, whether he would complete the race. ",p:54,x:105,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"If Gavin decides to do something, he will train and prepare for ",p:54,x:105,y:639,w:455,h:23},
{t:"it. Ten, in the words of the famous Nike ad, he will “just do ",p:54,x:105,y:666,w:455,h:23},
{t:"it.” Once we knew of his determination to run a marathon, we ",p:54,x:105,y:694,w:455,h:23},
{t:"would have been really surprised if he had dropped out before ",p:54,x:105,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"reaching the fnish line.",p:54,x:105,y:749,w:165,h:23},
{t:"“He nearly made it.” “She almost did it.” I think these are ",p:54,x:134,y:776,w:425,h:23},
{t:"among the saddest words one can hear. I have always feared hear-",p:54,x:105,y:804,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ing a fnal verdict such as “You nearly made it, but you never ",p:54,x:105,y:831,w:456,h:23},
{t:"quite managed to fulfll your potential.” Tis verdict suits those ",p:54,x:105,y:859,w:454,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:55,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"40",p:55,x:105,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"who begin well but fail to keep going—even some whom we ",p:55,x:105,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"respect as spiritual leaders. ",p:55,x:105,y:143,w:190,h:23},
{t:"Time and again, men and women of God who started out ",p:55,x:134,y:171,w:425,h:23},
{t:"well have ended their service for the Lord with shattered dreams ",p:55,x:105,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and personal disappointment. Tis may have happened because ",p:55,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of their failing to become all they longed to be in Jesus, because ",p:55,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of their inability to cope with situations they faced, or even ",p:55,x:105,y:281,w:457,h:23},
{t:"because of a moral or ethical collapse totally inconsistent with ",p:55,x:105,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"their spiritual calling. Whatever happened, they now look back ",p:55,x:105,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"with regret at what might have been. ",p:55,x:105,y:363,w:263,h:23},
{t:"If we want to complete our journey well, without the dis-",p:55,x:134,y:391,w:419,h:23},
{t:"appointment of nearly making it, then the only way to go is ",p:55,x:105,y:418,w:457,h:23},
{t:"to the cross. A. W. Tozer once concluded that for a crucifed ",p:55,x:105,y:446,w:456,h:23},
{t:"man, whether he attains great sainthood or spiritual mediocrity ",p:55,x:105,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"depends upon which choice he makes.1 ",p:55,x:105,y:501,w:281,h:23},
{t:"A Matter of the ",p:55,x:215,y:552,w:165,h:30},
{t:"Will",p:55,x:396,y:552,w:46,h:30},
{t:"We can have everything imaginable; but without the cross, ",p:55,x:135,y:593,w:425,h:23},
{t:"one pitfall or another will trap us. Without the cross, you and ",p:55,x:105,y:620,w:455,h:23},
{t:"I could know the disappointment of recognizing that we never ",p:55,x:105,y:648,w:455,h:23},
{t:"quite made it. Fortunately, God knows where we are, and the ",p:55,x:105,y:675,w:456,h:23},
{t:"grace of his crucifed love is always drawing us to himself. He ",p:55,x:105,y:703,w:456,h:23},
{t:"moves upon us in his own timing and initiative to call us to the ",p:55,x:105,y:730,w:454,h:23},
{t:"great adventure of faith. His way is as unique in our lives as our ",p:55,x:105,y:758,w:454,h:23},
{t:"own fngerprints. He waits until we are ready to surrender and ",p:55,x:105,y:785,w:455,h:23},
{t:"prepared to rely on him.",p:55,x:105,y:813,w:171,h:23},
{t:"1.",p:55,x:105,y:866,w:11,h:19},
{t:" A. W. Tozer, Te Radical Cross (Camp Hill, PA: Wing Spread Publishers, ",p:55,x:123,y:866,w:424,h:19},
{t:"2006), 47.",p:55,x:104,y:886,w:61,h:19},
{t:"41",p:56,x:542,y:935,w:11,h:19},
{t:"DISCIPLE",p:56,x:499,y:64,w:47,h:21},
{t:"Ravi Zacharias has observed, “Where does one begin? With ",p:56,x:135,y:116,w:424,h:23},
{t:"self-crucifxion? In efect, we go to our own funeral and bury ",p:56,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"the self-will so that God’s will can reign supremely in our hearts. ",p:56,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Our will has no power to do God’s will until it frst dies to its ",p:56,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"own desires and the Holy Spirit brings a fresh power within.”2 ",p:56,x:105,y:226,w:441,h:23},
{t:"Tere is one thing that is safe about a cross. You can rely ",p:56,x:134,y:253,w:426,h:23},
{t:"on the fact that it will not do an incomplete work. Te cross ",p:56,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of Roman times was a perfected killing instrument; it ofered ",p:56,x:105,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"neither compromise nor concessions. If you stay on the cross, ",p:56,x:105,y:336,w:456,h:23},
{t:"you can be sure that it will fnish what has been started.",p:56,x:105,y:363,w:392,h:23},
{t:"An old friend of mine once put it very simply. He confessed, ",p:56,x:134,y:391,w:423,h:23},
{t:"“I want to die to myself, and I want to be crucifed with Christ. ",p:56,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"But I know that as soon as I can I will want to compromise ",p:56,x:105,y:446,w:457,h:23},
{t:"myself away from the cross. What I need is a Roman guard at the ",p:56,x:105,y:473,w:453,h:23},
{t:"foot of my cross to ensure that I never come down.” He is abso-",p:56,x:105,y:501,w:449,h:23},
{t:"lutely right. Te cross does not have just a one-time impact on ",p:56,x:105,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"our lives. And remember, none of us can die to another person ’s ",p:56,x:105,y:556,w:454,h:23},
{t:"cross—each of us has to surrender to our own. Ten we live our ",p:56,x:105,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"lives from that perspective. Because each cross is personal, Jesus ",p:56,x:105,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"said that we must take up our cross daily to follow him (Luke ",p:56,x:105,y:638,w:456,h:23},
{t:"9:23). Tat is the secret to moving on in God. Te Lord does not ",p:56,x:105,y:666,w:453,h:23},
{t:"expect perfection, but he does celebrate progress. ",p:56,x:105,y:693,w:326,h:23},
{t:"As we take up our personal cross and follow Jesus, the free-",p:56,x:134,y:721,w:419,h:23},
{t:"dom he earned for us on his cross comes into play. Te cross of ",p:56,x:105,y:748,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Christ becomes the one efective means of slaying our evil nature ",p:56,x:105,y:776,w:453,h:23},
{t:"and freeing us from its power—it is no longer a symbol of defeat ",p:56,x:105,y:803,w:454,h:23},
{t:"2.",p:56,x:105,y:866,w:11,h:19},
{t:" Ravi Zacharias, Te Grand Weaver (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007), ",p:56,x:123,y:866,w:409,h:19},
{t:"122.",p:56,x:105,y:886,w:26,h:19},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:57,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"42",p:57,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"but of ultimate victory. Tat is why I fnd the subject of this ",p:57,x:105,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"book so exciting. It is the one truth I want to address. Te cross ",p:57,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of Jesus and the life it brings—“dying to live”—is for us today.",p:57,x:105,y:171,w:440,h:23},
{t:"Our challenge is to surrender everything we have and are to ",p:57,x:134,y:198,w:424,h:23},
{t:"him: our money, gifts, time, and ambitions. Ten we enter into ",p:57,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the exciting discovery of all that he wants us to become. Tere ",p:57,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"might be some surprises. I wanted to be a politician but ended ",p:57,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"up a preacher, and I can confdently say from experience that my ",p:57,x:105,y:308,w:453,h:23},
{t:"will was wrong and his leading was right. We may dread the idea ",p:57,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of not fulflling our own desires; but if our will is surrendered ",p:57,x:105,y:363,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and our life is in his hands, then our real potential is secure.",p:57,x:105,y:391,w:421,h:23},
{t:"Tis is not to suggest that we will all turn out the same ",p:57,x:134,y:418,w:427,h:23},
{t:"way. John D. is one of the many interesting characters in our ",p:57,x:105,y:446,w:456,h:23},
{t:"local church. He is kind, gracious, godly, and intriguing. As an ",p:57,x:105,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"example, he requests the middle seat when fying on an airplane. ",p:57,x:105,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"When I asked John D. about this, he explained that it allows him ",p:57,x:105,y:528,w:453,h:23},
{t:"to talk to two people about fnding Jesus. Now how intimidating ",p:57,x:105,y:556,w:453,h:23},
{t:"can some people be, especially to those of us who prefer the aisle ",p:57,x:105,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"seat for our own comfort and privacy? John D. is aware of the ",p:57,x:105,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"gifts that God has given him, and he is ready to exercise his will ",p:57,x:105,y:638,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to see them used, even when he might not want to do so. Others ",p:57,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"couldn ’t do what John D. does. But when we surrender our will, ",p:57,x:105,y:693,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Jesus takes who we are and makes us into who we can become.",p:57,x:105,y:721,w:441,h:23},
{t:"When Jesus called his followers to take up their cross, he ",p:57,x:134,y:748,w:426,h:23},
{t:"said, “If anyone would come after me . . . ” (Matthew 16:24). ",p:57,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Tat means he gives us a choice in calling us to the cross—and ",p:57,x:105,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"there our life becomes lost in his.",p:57,x:105,y:831,w:233,h:23},
{t:"43",p:58,x:541,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"DISCIPLE",p:58,x:499,y:64,w:47,h:21},
{t:"Keep Your Turban On",p:58,x:206,y:115,w:246,h:30},
{t:"It was a cool winter day in North India. Tree women, two ",p:58,x:135,y:156,w:424,h:23},
{t:"of them Westerners, were on their way to a secret rendezvous. ",p:58,x:105,y:183,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Te instructions they had been given were simple: drive to a ",p:58,x:105,y:211,w:457,h:23},
{t:"particular street corner in a busy part of the city—and wait.",p:58,x:105,y:238,w:420,h:23},
{t:"A motorcycle driver arrived and indicated that the women ",p:58,x:135,y:266,w:425,h:23},
{t:"should follow him. Tey tried to keep up as they drove behind ",p:58,x:105,y:293,w:455,h:23},
{t:"him. Streets and intersections fashed by as they weaved a circu-",p:58,x:105,y:321,w:449,h:23},
{t:"itous route through the city. Finally they arrived at a very ordi-",p:58,x:105,y:348,w:449,h:23},
{t:"nary house and met a man wearing a turban, “Pastor George,” ",p:58,x:105,y:376,w:455,h:23},
{t:"who shared his amazing story. ",p:58,x:105,y:403,w:215,h:23},
{t:"It all began when two of George’s brothers met Jesus, even ",p:58,x:135,y:431,w:425,h:23},
{t:"though they were part of a traditional Sikh family. Tey were ",p:58,x:105,y:458,w:456,h:23},
{t:"converted and baptized in a local Christian church. Ten came ",p:58,x:105,y:486,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the crunch. Te church leaders, who were not Sikhs, told them ",p:58,x:105,y:513,w:455,h:23},
{t:"in no uncertain terms, “Now that you are Christians you must ",p:58,x:105,y:541,w:455,h:23},
{t:"take of your turbans.” Tis created great consternation, because ",p:58,x:105,y:568,w:454,h:23},
{t:"their identity and culture were symbolized by this headwear. ",p:58,x:105,y:596,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Tey would lose their sense of self! Furthermore, their ability ",p:58,x:105,y:623,w:456,h:23},
{t:"to introduce others in their community to Jesus depended on ",p:58,x:105,y:651,w:456,h:23},
{t:"remaining within their culture. If they removed their turbans, ",p:58,x:105,y:678,w:456,h:23},
{t:"then the opportunity to communicate Christ to those they had ",p:58,x:105,y:706,w:455,h:23},
{t:"known all their lives would be sacrifced.",p:58,x:105,y:733,w:286,h:23},
{t:"Commitment to Christ means being prepared to lose ",p:58,x:135,y:761,w:430,h:23},
{t:"everything. Tese two converted Sikhs were prepared to lose ",p:58,x:105,y:788,w:457,h:23},
{t:"it all when they were baptized. Conversion to Christianity is ",p:58,x:105,y:816,w:457,h:23},
{t:"viewed as a serious insult to Sikh beliefs. Leaving their culture ",p:58,x:105,y:843,w:455,h:23},
{t:"behind would be the easy choice—though separated from their ",p:58,x:105,y:871,w:455,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:59,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"44",p:59,x:105,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"background, they would enjoy a fairly comfortable life. Retaining ",p:59,x:105,y:116,w:453,h:23},
{t:"their turbans in order to serve Jesus in such a hostile environ-",p:59,x:105,y:143,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ment, on the other hand, could introduce them to a “living ",p:59,x:105,y:171,w:457,h:23},
{t:"death”—where self-sacrifce, persecution, and even martyrdom ",p:59,x:105,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"were likely outcomes.",p:59,x:105,y:226,w:151,h:23},
{t:"During this same time, George was in Japan, where a young ",p:59,x:134,y:253,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Japanese woman joyfully shared with him her newfound faith in ",p:59,x:105,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Jesus. She was not inhibited in the slightest to witness to a Sikh ",p:59,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"about life in Christ. George met Jesus through her testimony. ",p:59,x:105,y:336,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Returning home, George, along with his two brothers, contin-",p:59,x:105,y:363,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ued to grow in their faith. Soon six of the seven brothers in the ",p:59,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"family had come to faith in Jesus. Ten their mother became ",p:59,x:105,y:418,w:456,h:23},
{t:"gravely ill, and they were told she had only hours left to live. Te ",p:59,x:105,y:446,w:453,h:23},
{t:"newly converted Sikh family desperately prayed. She was healed, ",p:59,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and she gloriously surrendered her life to Jesus Christ!",p:59,x:105,y:501,w:380,h:23},
{t:"Te news spread throughout their community, and soon ",p:59,x:134,y:528,w:427,h:23},
{t:"people began coming to ask questions and fnd out more. But ",p:59,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"almost all of them came at night. Tey weren ’t prepared to reveal ",p:59,x:105,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"their fascination in the Christian God who healed people. ",p:59,x:105,y:611,w:412,h:23},
{t:"Tese nocturnal visits had incredible results. Pastor George ",p:59,x:134,y:638,w:425,h:23},
{t:"and his brothers had little opportunity for sleep. So many people ",p:59,x:105,y:666,w:453,h:23},
{t:"were responding that they had to convert the whole middle foor ",p:59,x:105,y:693,w:453,h:23},
{t:"of their house into a meeting place. As a group, Sikhs have always ",p:59,x:105,y:721,w:453,h:23},
{t:"been closed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, in one ",p:59,x:105,y:748,w:456,h:23},
{t:"year Pastor George baptized two hundred people, with nearly all ",p:59,x:105,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of them making their spiritual home in that small space. Drawn ",p:59,x:105,y:803,w:454,h:23},
{t:"initially by the healing miracles that were regularly taking place, ",p:59,x:105,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and then convicted by the truth of Jesus, they found saving faith ",p:59,x:105,y:858,w:454,h:23},
{t:"45",p:60,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"DISCIPLE",p:60,x:499,y:64,w:47,h:21},
{t:"in Christ. Tey joined a spiritual family who had sold out to ",p:60,x:104,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Jesus Christ and became part of a people who had surrendered ",p:60,x:104,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"their will to his.",p:60,x:104,y:171,w:111,h:23},
{t:"Te three women discovered that the great lengths they ",p:60,x:134,y:198,w:428,h:23},
{t:"went to in order to hear this story of crucifed life were worth ",p:60,x:104,y:226,w:456,h:23},
{t:"it. Tey share a valuable lesson from Pastor George: a life given ",p:60,x:104,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"over to the will of God may well involve keeping your turban on!",p:60,x:104,y:281,w:450,h:23},
{t:"Going the Whole W",p:60,x:206,y:332,w:211,h:30},
{t:"ay",p:60,x:429,y:332,w:22,h:30},
{t:"Tat kind of faith is infectious. Te story of a dangerous ",p:60,x:135,y:373,w:426,h:23},
{t:"commitment, a hostile environment, clandestine motorcycle ",p:60,x:105,y:400,w:459,h:23},
{t:"journeys, and secret nocturnal visits pulls us in with its excite-",p:60,x:105,y:428,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ment. Yet secret rendezvous and meetings at night are nothing ",p:60,x:105,y:455,w:455,h:23},
{t:"new. Two thousand years ago one of the leading Jewish spiritual ",p:60,x:105,y:483,w:454,h:23},
{t:"teachers, Nicodemus, initiated a nocturnal meeting with Jesus ",p:60,x:105,y:510,w:456,h:23},
{t:"(John 3:1–2). In doing so, he risked his reputation, position, ",p:60,x:105,y:538,w:456,h:23},
{t:"security, and destiny. He laid everything on the line—always the ",p:60,x:105,y:565,w:454,h:23},
{t:"best place to start.",p:60,x:105,y:593,w:127,h:23},
{t:"Tis meeting gave Jesus the opportunity to explain to ",p:60,x:135,y:620,w:430,h:23},
{t:"Nicodemus that regardless of his age he needed to be “born ",p:60,x:105,y:648,w:457,h:23},
{t:"again.” Te idea of being transplanted into his mother’s womb ",p:60,x:105,y:675,w:455,h:23},
{t:"was laughable, but eventually Nicodemus got the message. What ",p:60,x:105,y:703,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Jesus wanted was for Nicodemus to give up—to relinquish his ",p:60,x:105,y:730,w:455,h:23},
{t:"trust in past achievements and to abandon all faith based on ",p:60,x:105,y:758,w:457,h:23},
{t:"his own understanding, past experiences, and present prestige. ",p:60,x:105,y:785,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Instead, he was to start again—not from a position of power, but ",p:60,x:105,y:813,w:453,h:23},
{t:"from one of powerlessness.",p:60,x:105,y:840,w:188,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:61,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"46",p:61,x:105,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"Fortunately this Jewish leader came to Jesus at his moment ",p:61,x:135,y:116,w:425,h:23},
{t:"of greatest need. He was looking for the truth. Tere were others ",p:61,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"who also turned to Jesus as a last resort.",p:61,x:105,y:171,w:278,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:61,x:135,y:206,w:11,h:23},
{t:"When Jairus, a synagogue ruler, knew beyond a doubt ",p:61,x:164,y:206,w:386,h:23},
{t:"that his daughter was dying, he came to Jesus (Mark ",p:61,x:164,y:233,w:373,h:23},
{t:"5:21–23).",p:61,x:164,y:261,w:70,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:61,x:135,y:288,w:11,h:23},
{t:"When her fnancial resources were completely ",p:61,x:164,y:288,w:327,h:23},
{t:"exhausted and doctors were unable to help, a woman ",p:61,x:164,y:316,w:378,h:23},
{t:"who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years touched ",p:61,x:164,y:343,w:383,h:23},
{t:"Jesus without asking permission—because he was her ",p:61,x:164,y:371,w:380,h:23},
{t:"last resort (Mark 5:24–28).",p:61,x:164,y:398,w:191,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:61,x:135,y:426,w:11,h:23},
{t:"When a man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight ",p:61,x:164,y:426,w:384,h:23},
{t:"years was unable to enter the pool of Bethesda frst ",p:61,x:164,y:453,w:362,h:23},
{t:"when the water was stirred, Jesus went to him and told ",p:61,x:164,y:481,w:391,h:23},
{t:"him to get up and walk. And the man did get up and ",p:61,x:164,y:508,w:379,h:23},
{t:"walk, because he was instantly cured (John 5:1–9)!",p:61,x:164,y:536,w:357,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:61,x:135,y:563,w:11,h:23},
{t:"When a large crowd sat hungry and in need of food ",p:61,x:164,y:563,w:369,h:23},
{t:"after listening to Jesus, they discovered, along with the ",p:61,x:164,y:591,w:387,h:23},
{t:"disciples, that fve loaves of bread and two fsh were ",p:61,x:164,y:618,w:367,h:23},
{t:"more than enough (Mark 6:34–44).",p:61,x:164,y:646,w:254,h:23},
{t:"Little has changed today. Jesus still comes to us, even if we ",p:61,x:135,y:681,w:425,h:23},
{t:"are not aware of our need for him. It began when he stood on ",p:61,x:105,y:708,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the shore of Lake Galilee and challenged a group of ordinary ",p:61,x:105,y:736,w:456,h:23},
{t:"fshermen to “Follow me” (Matthew 4:18–22). ",p:61,x:105,y:763,w:335,h:23},
{t:"Tree things about this situation strike me as unusual. First, ",p:61,x:135,y:791,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Jesus ofered these frst disciples a change of vocation: now they ",p:61,x:105,y:818,w:454,h:23},
{t:"would catch people to be liberated rather than fsh to be sold. ",p:61,x:105,y:846,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Second, they left behind their possessions (boats and nets) as ",p:61,x:105,y:873,w:456,h:23},
{t:"47",p:62,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"DISCIPLE",p:62,x:499,y:64,w:47,h:21},
{t:"well as their families. Tird, they responded decisively and com-",p:62,x:104,y:116,w:449,h:23},
{t:"pletely when they were called. ",p:62,x:104,y:143,w:215,h:23},
{t:"Tese men had certainly not run out of options, but now ",p:62,x:134,y:171,w:426,h:23},
{t:"they would discover a whole new dimension to life. In leaving ",p:62,x:104,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"their boats, they would fnd their life calling. Tey were likely ",p:62,x:104,y:226,w:456,h:23},
{t:"in their teens or early twenties. Most of life still lay ahead, and ",p:62,x:104,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"yet they risked everything on this new teacher. Andrew told his ",p:62,x:104,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"brother Peter, “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41). Tey ",p:62,x:104,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"followed him, leaving their comfort zones behind them. ",p:62,x:104,y:336,w:399,h:23},
{t:"Te situation is similar to that of Pastor George and his ",p:62,x:134,y:363,w:427,h:23},
{t:"brothers. Jesus wants to bring us out of our comfort zones ",p:62,x:104,y:391,w:458,h:23},
{t:"and introduce us to a new security—that of his transforming ",p:62,x:104,y:418,w:456,h:23},
{t:"love and power. Jesus may not always ofer happiness based on ",p:62,x:104,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"external circumstances, but he does bring us deep signifcance ",p:62,x:104,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and lasting inner joy. His method will vary, but it will match our ",p:62,x:104,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"ability to cope. Te call to discipleship will be instant for some ",p:62,x:104,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and more progressive for others, because Christ tenderly knows ",p:62,x:104,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"our diferences.",p:62,x:104,y:583,w:108,h:23},
{t:"When the rich young ruler was challenged to abandon ",p:62,x:134,y:611,w:429,h:23},
{t:"his material possessions to follow Jesus, he couldn ’t leave them ",p:62,x:104,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"behind (Mark 10:17–22). It seemed that Jesus expected too ",p:62,x:104,y:666,w:458,h:23},
{t:"much of him, and he went away an unhappy man. A life of true ",p:62,x:104,y:693,w:454,h:23},
{t:"discipleship to Jesus carried too expensive a price tag. Was it ",p:62,x:104,y:721,w:457,h:23},
{t:"really necessary for this man to give away all he owned in order ",p:62,x:104,y:748,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to receive the life Jesus ofered? If we were in Jesus’ shoes, we ",p:62,x:104,y:776,w:456,h:23},
{t:"might have run after the young man and ofered a compromise ",p:62,x:104,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"or at least settled for a tithe of 10 percent. Jesus didn ’t let people ",p:62,x:104,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:63,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"48",p:63,x:105,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"of lightly. He demanded surrender to a life of discipleship that ",p:63,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"would cost everything. ",p:63,x:105,y:143,w:164,h:23},
{t:"Pastor George and most of the Sikhs he has baptized know ",p:63,x:134,y:171,w:425,h:23},
{t:"this kind of surrender. Would we be as prepared to give this level ",p:63,x:105,y:198,w:453,h:23},
{t:"of commitment?",p:63,x:105,y:226,w:117,h:23},
{t:"Walking with J",p:63,x:221,y:277,w:154,h:30},
{t:"esus",p:63,x:392,y:277,w:42,h:30},
{t:"More than seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus ",p:63,x:135,y:318,w:427,h:23},
{t:"Christ, God spoke to one of his prophets, a shepherd named ",p:63,x:105,y:345,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Amos. Tis man had asked a signifcant question that predicted ",p:63,x:105,y:373,w:454,h:23},
{t:"our walk of discipleship. He inquired, “Do two walk together ",p:63,x:105,y:400,w:456,h:23},
{t:"unless they have agreed to do so?” (Amos 3:3). His rhetorical ",p:63,x:105,y:428,w:456,h:23},
{t:"question anticipates no for an answer. Te call to discipleship is ",p:63,x:105,y:455,w:454,h:23},
{t:"a call to partner with a person! Tis is what any Jewish religious ",p:63,x:105,y:483,w:455,h:23},
{t:"leader—even the openhearted Nicodemus—might struggle to ",p:63,x:105,y:510,w:457,h:23},
{t:"understand. It was not primarily about obedience to the Ten ",p:63,x:105,y:538,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Commandments or to the 613 related rules and regulations ",p:63,x:105,y:565,w:458,h:23},
{t:"identifed by the Jewish religious leaders. Te heart of the ",p:63,x:105,y:593,w:459,h:23},
{t:"Christian faith lies not in what you do, but in who you know. ",p:63,x:105,y:620,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Tis is the prime distinctive of Christianity. It is not a religion ",p:63,x:105,y:648,w:454,h:23},
{t:"about God; it is a relationship with God. ",p:63,x:105,y:675,w:279,h:23},
{t:"Amazingly, it is the Son of God who invites us on our ",p:63,x:135,y:703,w:428,h:23},
{t:"journey with him. His journey led to a cross, and so may ours; ",p:63,x:105,y:730,w:455,h:23},
{t:"but we know it will not end there. Christ in us represents the ",p:63,x:105,y:758,w:456,h:23},
{t:"certainty of eternal glory (Colossians 1:27). He ofers to take us ",p:63,x:105,y:785,w:454,h:23},
{t:"into the intimacy of a relationship that his early disciples knew: ",p:63,x:105,y:813,w:454,h:23},
{t:"loving him, serving him, talking with him, and learning from ",p:63,x:105,y:840,w:456,h:23},
{t:"him. Tis is still the way Jesus makes disciples. As we spend time ",p:63,x:105,y:868,w:454,h:23},
{t:"49",p:64,x:541,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"DISCIPLE",p:64,x:499,y:64,w:47,h:21},
{t:"with him—in prayer, in his Word, and with other disciples in ",p:64,x:104,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"the community—and obey what he calls us to do, our nature ",p:64,x:104,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"begins to change. We begin to internalize the worldview that ",p:64,x:104,y:171,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Jesus introduced. As Peter Maiden so crisply summarizes, “Te ",p:64,x:104,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"call to discipleship is the call to relationship.”3 ",p:64,x:104,y:226,w:328,h:23},
{t:"Tere is a price tag attached. Walking with Jesus will require ",p:64,x:134,y:253,w:424,h:23},
{t:"that we “throw of everything that hinders and the sin that so ",p:64,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1). Our Lord has things to do ",p:64,x:105,y:308,w:457,h:23},
{t:"through us and places for us to go with him. We can ’t be weighed ",p:64,x:105,y:336,w:453,h:23},
{t:"down if we want to keep up.",p:64,x:105,y:363,w:201,h:23},
{t:"Choosing to D",p:64,x:236,y:414,w:151,h:30},
{t:"ie",p:64,x:404,y:414,w:17,h:30},
{t:"We were created to live in relationship with God. But hu-",p:64,x:135,y:455,w:419,h:23},
{t:"man sin separated us from him. Te call to discipleship is a call ",p:64,x:105,y:483,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to recover our relationship and rediscover all that the living God ",p:64,x:105,y:510,w:454,h:23},
{t:"intended us to be. Who could be better to learn from than Jesus ",p:64,x:105,y:538,w:454,h:23},
{t:"himself? As the Argentinean church leader Juan Carlos Ortiz ",p:64,x:105,y:565,w:457,h:23},
{t:"explains, “Discipleship is more than getting to know what the ",p:64,x:105,y:593,w:456,h:23},
{t:"teacher knows. It is getting to be what he is.”4 Te disciples ",p:64,x:105,y:620,w:457,h:23},
{t:"learned what it meant to be like Jesus by spending time with ",p:64,x:105,y:648,w:456,h:23},
{t:"him and practicing what he did.",p:64,x:105,y:675,w:227,h:23},
{t:"Tis is where the cost of ongoing discipleship kicks in. Te ",p:64,x:135,y:703,w:425,h:23},
{t:"most casual reading of any of the Gospels shows how diferent ",p:64,x:105,y:730,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Jesus was from the Jewish, Roman, Greek, and pagan cultures ",p:64,x:105,y:758,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of the day. He turned the assumptions, priorities, motivations, ",p:64,x:105,y:785,w:455,h:23},
{t:"3.",p:64,x:105,y:846,w:11,h:19},
{t:" Peter Maiden, Discipleship (Colorado Springs: Authentic, 2007), 15.",p:64,x:123,y:846,w:397,h:19},
{t:"4.",p:64,x:105,y:866,w:11,h:19},
{t:" Juan Carlos Ortiz, Disciple: A Handbook for New Believers (Orlando, FL: ",p:64,x:123,y:866,w:424,h:19},
{t:"Strang Communications, 1995), quoted in Maiden, Discipleship, 22.",p:64,x:105,y:886,w:396,h:19},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:65,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"50",p:65,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"and commitments of the religious leaders of his day completely ",p:65,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"upside down. Ten he called his disciples to do the same.",p:65,x:105,y:143,w:403,h:23},
{t:"Many Christian leaders devise a “must do” list for their fol-",p:65,x:134,y:171,w:419,h:23},
{t:"lowers. Today it might include:",p:65,x:105,y:198,w:219,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:65,x:134,y:233,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Pray at least half an hour a day.",p:65,x:164,y:233,w:219,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:65,x:134,y:261,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Attend church twice a week.",p:65,x:164,y:261,w:200,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:65,x:134,y:288,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Tell one person a day about Jesus.",p:65,x:164,y:288,w:238,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:65,x:134,y:316,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Read the Bible through each year.",p:65,x:164,y:316,w:237,h:23},
{t:"Although these are helpful disciplines, they can also become ",p:65,x:134,y:351,w:424,h:23},
{t:"burdensome, lifeless routines. And besides that, Jesus had higher ",p:65,x:105,y:378,w:454,h:23},
{t:"standards! He never taught his followers to neglect helpful disci-",p:65,x:105,y:406,w:449,h:23},
{t:"plines; he just wanted them to go beyond them. So he taught the ",p:65,x:105,y:433,w:453,h:23},
{t:"hallmarks of discipleship, instructing his follwers to:",p:65,x:105,y:461,w:367,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:65,x:134,y:496,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Love and pray for their enemies, not just for friends ",p:65,x:164,y:496,w:369,h:23},
{t:"(Matthew 5:43–48).",p:65,x:164,y:523,w:144,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:65,x:134,y:551,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Leave everything behind to follow Jesus (Luke ",p:65,x:164,y:551,w:330,h:23},
{t:"14:25–33).",p:65,x:164,y:578,w:79,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:65,x:134,y:606,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Hold to the teachings of Jesus and faithfully pass them ",p:65,x:164,y:606,w:389,h:23},
{t:"on (John 8:31–32).",p:65,x:164,y:633,w:137,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:65,x:134,y:661,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Consistently give their life for his glory, and bear much ",p:65,x:164,y:661,w:393,h:23},
{t:"fruit as living evidence that he is at work (Matthew ",p:65,x:164,y:688,w:365,h:23},
{t:"16:24; John 15:8).",p:65,x:164,y:716,w:131,h:23},
{t:"Tis rabbi, Jesus, was clearly countercultural—both then ",p:65,x:134,y:751,w:427,h:23},
{t:"and now. He challenged people to become all they could be. He ",p:65,x:105,y:778,w:454,h:23},
{t:"instructed his disciples that, after he was gone, they should go ",p:65,x:105,y:806,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and make “Christians.” . . . Well, not exactly.",p:65,x:105,y:833,w:317,h:23},
{t:"51",p:66,x:543,y:935,w:10,h:19},
{t:"DISCIPLE",p:66,x:499,y:64,w:47,h:21},
{t:"Tey should make “converts.” . . . No, that’s not what he ",p:66,x:135,y:116,w:426,h:23},
{t:"said.",p:66,x:105,y:143,w:31,h:23},
{t:"“Go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). . . . Got it!",p:66,x:135,y:171,w:379,h:23},
{t:"Jesus was seeking the development of people who were sold ",p:66,x:135,y:198,w:424,h:23},
{t:"out to him, those who would leave their modern-day nets to ",p:66,x:105,y:226,w:456,h:23},
{t:"follow him. Tat is the character of a true disciple, and that is ",p:66,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the nature of one who will fnish the race well.",p:66,x:105,y:281,w:327,h:23},
{t:"Another metaphor for following Jesus is the Hollywood ",p:66,x:135,y:308,w:428,h:23},
{t:"adaptation of the story of the Roman slave Spartacus.5 Spartacus ",p:66,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"led a rebellion of slaves against Rome, an insurrection that ",p:66,x:105,y:363,w:458,h:23},
{t:"proved to be surprisingly successful. But fnally the rebel army ",p:66,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"was defeated, and many of the soldiers, including Spartacus, ",p:66,x:105,y:418,w:457,h:23},
{t:"were captured. Te reprisal dictated against him was that he be ",p:66,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"crucifed. But initially none of the Roman ofcers were able to ",p:66,x:105,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"identify Spartacus. So they demanded that he step forward. One ",p:66,x:105,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"by one his followers did so, declaring “I am Spartacus.” Te road ",p:66,x:105,y:528,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to Rome was lined with the crosses of those determined to die ",p:66,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"with their leader.",p:66,x:105,y:583,w:119,h:23},
{t:"Spartacus may be a fctionalized account, but being prepared ",p:66,x:134,y:611,w:423,h:23},
{t:"to live and to die for Jesus is no mere abstract concept. His call ",p:66,x:105,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"upon our lives is to experience every day what it means to be ",p:66,x:105,y:666,w:456,h:23},
{t:"sold out, ofering ourselves to him, for that is the nature of a ",p:66,x:105,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"true disciple. ",p:66,x:105,y:721,w:95,h:23},
{t:"5.",p:66,x:105,y:886,w:11,h:19},
{t:" Stanley Kubrick, Spartacus, (Universal Pictures, 1960)",p:66,x:123,y:886,w:315,h:19},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:67,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"52",p:67,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"Prayer ",p:67,x:105,y:123,w:75,h:38},
{t:" Dear Lord, I open to you my hidden assump-",p:67,x:194,y:131,w:360,h:28},
{t:"tions about my life and future. I give my dreams to you. Lead me ",p:67,x:105,y:161,w:453,h:23},
{t:"into the deeper joy of your presence, and let my heart see others ",p:67,x:105,y:189,w:454,h:23},
{t:"who need you as you see them. I don ’t want to waste my life, ",p:67,x:105,y:216,w:456,h:23},
{t:"looking back to say, “I have been blind.” Teach me to truly give ",p:67,x:105,y:244,w:454,h:23},
{t:"myself to you. Help me to love your Word and spend time with ",p:67,x:105,y:271,w:454,h:23},
{t:"you. Teach me to walk with you every day. Please help me always ",p:67,x:105,y:299,w:453,h:23},
{t:"to live as your true disciple. Amen.",p:67,x:105,y:326,w:245,h:23},
{t:"53",p:68,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"CHAPTER FIVE",p:68,x:105,y:240,w:57,h:14},
{t:"Sacrifice",p:68,x:105,y:292,w:167,h:69},
{t:"DIE FIRST!",p:68,x:210,y:380,w:86,h:34},
{t:"In 1998 I was in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, to help in the ",p:68,x:165,y:489,w:393,h:69},
{t:"aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, one of the deadliest ",p:68,x:178,y:529,w:383,h:23},
{t:"hurricanes on record. Te night before I was to help, I looked ",p:68,x:105,y:556,w:456,h:23},
{t:"out from my hotel at the lights of Tegucigalpa to survey the ",p:68,x:105,y:584,w:457,h:23},
{t:"damage. Te image imprinted in my mind was swaths of black-",p:68,x:105,y:611,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ness interspersed by little patches of fickering lights. Morning ",p:68,x:105,y:639,w:456,h:23},
{t:"confrmed the picture. Tree houses were standing beside seven ",p:68,x:105,y:666,w:455,h:23},
{t:"that were destroyed. One road and its dwellings were intact; the ",p:68,x:105,y:694,w:454,h:23},
{t:"next two were gone. Te odor of dead bodies (estimated at ten ",p:68,x:105,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"thousand) was vivid testimony to the awful loss sufered by the ",p:68,x:105,y:749,w:455,h:23},
{t:"little nation.",p:68,x:105,y:776,w:87,h:23},
{t:"Walking through the desolation I came upon one house that ",p:68,x:134,y:804,w:423,h:23},
{t:"remained standing. Te crippled man who lived there was still ",p:68,x:105,y:831,w:455,h:23},
{t:"lying on his ramshackle bed. Six feet of mud covered his dead ",p:68,x:105,y:859,w:455,h:23},
{t:"body. ",p:68,x:105,y:886,w:43,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:69,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"54",p:69,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"On another street a man surveyed the debris that had once ",p:69,x:135,y:116,w:425,h:23},
{t:"been his home. “What are you looking for?” I asked. “My wife ",p:69,x:105,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and my three children,” he replied.",p:69,x:105,y:171,w:245,h:23},
{t:"As I walked, surrounded by traumatized people wandering ",p:69,x:135,y:198,w:425,h:23},
{t:"aimlessly, my eyes were drawn to a woman and her daughter ",p:69,x:105,y:226,w:457,h:23},
{t:"who were striding purposefully. She told me they were going to ",p:69,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"church, and her look indicated that she believed everyone else ",p:69,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"should do the same.",p:69,x:105,y:308,w:141,h:23},
{t:"Her house had been demolished. Te market stall and ",p:69,x:135,y:336,w:429,h:23},
{t:"produce by which she earned her living were all gone. Her pos-",p:69,x:105,y:363,w:449,h:23},
{t:"sessions were buried. All she had left was her daughter and the ",p:69,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"clothes they wore.",p:69,x:105,y:418,w:127,h:23},
{t:"I said the frst thing that crossed my mind. “After all this, ",p:69,x:135,y:446,w:426,h:23},
{t:"how can you just go of to church?” I immediately knew that ",p:69,x:105,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"I had misspoken. I had wanted to ask, “How has your faith ",p:69,x:105,y:501,w:457,h:23},
{t:"survived this awful tragedy? And how can we help you?” ",p:69,x:105,y:528,w:401,h:23},
{t:"With an intense look she said, “I’ve lost my home, my ",p:69,x:135,y:556,w:428,h:23},
{t:"possessions, and my business. But I still have Jesus. And in the ",p:69,x:105,y:583,w:455,h:23},
{t:"end, he is all that I need.” I was totally embarrassed. I realized ",p:69,x:105,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"that this was the kind of crucifed life that spoke of spiritual ",p:69,x:105,y:638,w:457,h:23},
{t:"greatness. At frst glance this was just an ordinary woman on the ",p:69,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"streets of Tegucigalpa, but one short conversation revealed her to ",p:69,x:105,y:693,w:453,h:23},
{t:"be a devoted disciple of Jesus. ",p:69,x:105,y:721,w:213,h:23},
{t:"Taking Risks for Christ",p:69,x:197,y:772,w:239,h:30},
{t:"Are the faith and character belonging to this woman sup-",p:69,x:135,y:813,w:419,h:23},
{t:"posed to be “normal” in a Christian life? Tat is a good question, ",p:69,x:105,y:840,w:453,h:23},
{t:"especially when her experiences may be far removed from what ",p:69,x:105,y:868,w:455,h:23},
{t:"55",p:70,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"SACRIFICE",p:70,x:490,y:64,w:54,h:21},
{t:"many Christians encounter. Too often our loving dependence ",p:70,x:104,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"upon God hangs on the sense that things are going well for us. ",p:70,x:104,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Te opposite experience can raise doubts and questions that ",p:70,x:104,y:171,w:458,h:23},
{t:"might not otherwise enter our minds. Do we love God only in ",p:70,x:104,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the good times?",p:70,x:104,y:226,w:110,h:23},
{t:"On several occasions in Scripture Abraham is called the ",p:70,x:134,y:253,w:428,h:23},
{t:"“friend” of God (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23). ",p:70,x:104,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Consider Abraham ’s life. In obedience to God’s call, he moved ",p:70,x:104,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"out of his comfort zone in Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan ",p:70,x:104,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"(Acts 7:2–5). Later he faced the ultimate test when God asked ",p:70,x:104,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"him to sacrifce his son Isaac (Hebrews 11:17–19). Abraham ",p:70,x:104,y:391,w:457,h:23},
{t:"accepted the risk, ready to give up his son—the “only son” of ",p:70,x:104,y:418,w:456,h:23},
{t:"God’s promise and the object of his love and afection (Genesis ",p:70,x:104,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"22:2). Tis was pure faith in action. And we are called to live the ",p:70,x:104,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"same way.",p:70,x:104,y:501,w:70,h:23},
{t:"Paul challenges us to liv e a diferent life from those around ",p:70,x:134,y:528,w:424,h:23},
{t:"us, to “ofer [our] bodies as living sacrifces",p:70,x:104,y:556,w:314,h:23},
{t:"” (Romans 12:1). ",p:70,x:425,y:556,w:133,h:23},
{t:"He undoubtedly had in mind people whose liv es he had ob-",p:70,x:104,y:583,w:449,h:23},
{t:"served. Take, for example, a member of P aul’s apostolic team ",p:70,x:104,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to whom he pays tribute in his letter to the P",p:70,x:104,y:638,w:317,h:23},
{t:"hilippian church. ",p:70,x:430,y:638,w:128,h:23},
{t:"Epaphroditus was a humble, selfess, and compassionate ser",p:70,x:104,y:666,w:434,h:23},
{t:"-",p:70,x:549,y:666,w:5,h:23},
{t:"vant of Jesus Christ. Because he lived to serve, he had little ",p:70,x:104,y:693,w:454,h:23},
{t:"regard for his personal safety. Paul insisted that Epaphroditus ",p:70,x:104,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"be respected since his ser vice had brought him close to death",p:70,x:104,y:748,w:437,h:23},
{t:"’ s ",p:70,x:546,y:748,w:13,h:23},
{t:"door. “Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor ",p:70,x:104,y:776,w:457,h:23},
{t:"men like him, because he almost died for the wor",p:70,x:104,y:803,w:356,h:23},
{t:"k of Christ, ",p:70,x:469,y:803,w:88,h:23},
{t:"risking his life to make up for the help y",p:70,x:104,y:831,w:282,h:23},
{t:"ou could not give me” ",p:70,x:394,y:831,w:164,h:23},
{t:"(Philippians 2:30). ",p:70,x:104,y:858,w:137,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:71,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"56",p:71,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"Paul uses a Greek word here that appears nowhere else in ",p:71,x:135,y:116,w:426,h:23},
{t:"the New Testament: paraboleuomai, which means “to risk.” ",p:71,x:105,y:143,w:459,h:23},
{t:"Paul indicates that Epaphroditus risked his life. Tat meaning, ",p:71,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"however, is the light version; the word also has deeper mean-",p:71,x:105,y:198,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ings. Its best English translation is “to hazard” or “to gamble.” ",p:71,x:105,y:226,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Tis verb means “to play the gambler”; and that is exactly what ",p:71,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Epaphroditus had been doing, not for his own beneft, but for ",p:71,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"that of his Christian brothers and sisters.",p:71,x:105,y:308,w:286,h:23},
{t:"Nero—the violent, and probably insane, Roman emperor—",p:71,x:135,y:336,w:419,h:23},
{t:"had Christians dipped in pitch, placed in massive candlehold-",p:71,x:105,y:363,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ers, and set afame to illuminate the beauty of his gardens. As ",p:71,x:105,y:391,w:456,h:23},
{t:"persecution spread, thousands faced the assault of wild animals ",p:71,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"in Roman arenas, and others were crucifed as Jesus had been. ",p:71,x:105,y:446,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Epaphroditus was only one of hundreds of early heroes of the ",p:71,x:105,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Christian faith, most of whose names we do not know.",p:71,x:105,y:501,w:386,h:23},
{t:"Te same Greek word that Paul employed in regard to ",p:71,x:135,y:528,w:428,h:23},
{t:"Epaphroditus later described a group of Christians who willingly ",p:71,x:105,y:556,w:453,h:23},
{t:"and selfessly exposed themselves to danger in the cause of Christ. ",p:71,x:105,y:583,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Tese risk-takers were nicknamed the Parabolani. Wanting to ",p:71,x:105,y:611,w:456,h:23},
{t:"live out the gospel by physically embodying the message of ",p:71,x:105,y:638,w:458,h:23},
{t:"Christ, they gave their lives voluntarily and never to gain their ",p:71,x:105,y:666,w:455,h:23},
{t:"own advantage. Tey ofered themselves solely for the beneft ",p:71,x:105,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of others. When they learned of people who were sick, even af-",p:71,x:105,y:721,w:450,h:23},
{t:"ficted with dangerous diseases, they risked everything to provide ",p:71,x:105,y:748,w:453,h:23},
{t:"help. Dangerous criminals in primitive dungeons became the ",p:71,x:105,y:776,w:457,h:23},
{t:"unlikely benefciaries of care ofered by the Parabolani—God’s ",p:71,x:105,y:803,w:456,h:23},
{t:"gamblers! ",p:71,x:105,y:831,w:71,h:23},
{t:"57",p:72,x:542,y:935,w:11,h:19},
{t:"SACRIFICE",p:72,x:490,y:64,w:54,h:21},
{t:"Te Parabolani are frst recorded living in the third century, ",p:72,x:135,y:116,w:424,h:23},
{t:"in the great Roman city of Carthage in North Africa. At this ",p:72,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"time, the population of Carthage had been decimated by one ",p:72,x:105,y:171,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of two great plagues occurring in the frst fve centuries of the ",p:72,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"church ’s existence. Te impact of this plague was so massive ",p:72,x:105,y:226,w:457,h:23},
{t:"that bodies lay abandoned on the streets—no one would ac-",p:72,x:105,y:253,w:449,h:23},
{t:"cept responsibility for their burial. With bodies decaying in the ",p:72,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"African sun, the plague grew at an astonishing rate. So in ad",p:72,x:105,y:308,w:449,h:23},
{t:"252, Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, took a band of young men ",p:72,x:105,y:336,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and women, the Parabolani, to bury the dead bodies in the city. ",p:72,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Not content with burying the dead, they also cared for the sick, ",p:72,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"jeopardizing their lives as they did so. Many lives were saved, but ",p:72,x:105,y:418,w:453,h:23},
{t:"the Parabolani sacrifced their lives in order to model the love ",p:72,x:105,y:446,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of Jesus for the citizens of Carthage.1 Teir extravagant love in ",p:72,x:105,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"action spoke louder than words ever could.",p:72,x:104,y:501,w:303,h:23},
{t:"Tese early heroes of the faith knew that the crucifed life ",p:72,x:134,y:528,w:426,h:23},
{t:"was of paramount importance. Tey literally believed, along ",p:72,x:104,y:556,w:458,h:23},
{t:"with the apostle Paul, that “to live is Christ and to die is gain” ",p:72,x:104,y:583,w:455,h:23},
{t:"(Philippians 1:21). Teir choices revolutionized the attitude of ",p:72,x:104,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"many people in Carthage toward the church as they demon-",p:72,x:104,y:638,w:449,h:23},
{t:"strated to their neighbors the impact Jesus Christ could make ",p:72,x:104,y:666,w:456,h:23},
{t:"upon a life. ",p:72,x:104,y:693,w:84,h:23},
{t:"Today the Parabolani have largely been forgotten. Perhaps ",p:72,x:134,y:721,w:426,h:23},
{t:"this is because Epaphroditus’ gambling approach to Christianity ",p:72,x:104,y:748,w:454,h:23},
{t:"has long been out of fashion. Te lack of information about ",p:72,x:104,y:776,w:457,h:23},
{t:"the Parabolani may have more to do with our reluctance to feel ",p:72,x:104,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"1.",p:72,x:105,y:866,w:11,h:19},
{t:" William Barclay, Te Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and ",p:72,x:123,y:866,w:359,h:19},
{t:"Tessalonians (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1975), 50.",p:72,x:105,y:886,w:335,h:19},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:73,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"58",p:73,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"uncomfortable. Nowadays we are far more confdent speaking ",p:73,x:105,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of the benefts of coming to Jesus rather than the price we may ",p:73,x:105,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"be called to pay to join our life with the living God. We entice ",p:73,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"people with the “ofer” of all that life in Christ will bring. We ",p:73,x:105,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"speak of love, joy, peace, satisfaction, and fulfllment that come ",p:73,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"through loving him. Tis is all true, but some yearn that the ",p:73,x:105,y:253,w:456,h:23},
{t:"spirit of the Parabolani might return among the people of God ",p:73,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to demonstrate that we live for more than ourselves.",p:73,x:105,y:308,w:366,h:23},
{t:"We would be foolish to deny all the gifts and blessings that ",p:73,x:134,y:336,w:424,h:23},
{t:"God provides. But there is a catch: we are not blessed just to ",p:73,x:105,y:363,w:456,h:23},
{t:"enhance ourselves; we are blessed so that God might make us a ",p:73,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"blessing to other people. As the Lord promised Abraham, “I will ",p:73,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make ",p:73,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"your name great, and you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2; italics ",p:73,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"added). It is for this reason we are called to lay our lives on the ",p:73,x:105,y:501,w:455,h:23},
{t:"line. We ofer Christ to a hungry world by living as sacrifces ",p:73,x:105,y:528,w:456,h:23},
{t:"for him. It is as if our lives had already been laid upon the altar ",p:73,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"of sacrifce—not to die, but to live for Jesus so that he can bless ",p:73,x:105,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"others through us.",p:73,x:105,y:611,w:129,h:23},
{t:"Being a “Living S",p:73,x:182,y:662,w:178,h:30},
{t:"acrifice",p:73,x:382,y:662,w:73,h:30},
{t:"”",p:73,x:465,y:662,w:11,h:30},
{t:" God ofers us life, but his ofer makes claims on how we ",p:73,x:135,y:703,w:426,h:23},
{t:"are to live. Te word if in Scripture is often followed by the ",p:73,x:105,y:730,w:457,h:23},
{t:"word then. As David prepared his son Solomon to be king, ",p:73,x:105,y:758,w:458,h:23},
{t:"he reminded Solomon of the promise God had made before ",p:73,x:105,y:785,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Solomon was even born: “If your descendants watch how they ",p:73,x:105,y:813,w:455,h:23},
{t:"live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and ",p:73,x:105,y:840,w:454,h:23},
{t:"soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel” ",p:73,x:105,y:868,w:455,h:23},
{t:"59",p:74,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"SACRIFICE",p:74,x:490,y:64,w:54,h:21},
{t:"(1 Kings 2:4). Tragically, the unfaithfulness of Solomon and his ",p:74,x:104,y:116,w:454,h:23},
{t:"descendants caused their disqualifcation from the blessings God ",p:74,x:104,y:143,w:453,h:23},
{t:"would have provided.",p:74,x:104,y:171,w:152,h:23},
{t:"At its most basic level, Jesus’ paradoxical message was this: ",p:74,x:134,y:198,w:425,h:23},
{t:"Tose who give up their life for my sake will certainly fnd it. But ",p:74,x:104,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"those who try to save their life—those who hang on to their life and ",p:74,x:104,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"refuse to risk it for me—will lose it. David instructed Solomon to ",p:74,x:104,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"give up his life for God’s sake when he said, “Be strong, show ",p:74,x:104,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: ",p:74,x:104,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands . . . so ",p:74,x:104,y:363,w:456,h:23},
{t:"that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go” (1 ",p:74,x:104,y:391,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Kings 2:2–3). Tese verses communicate both a claim on the ",p:74,x:104,y:418,w:456,h:23},
{t:"way Solomon was to live and the beneft of living such a life. ",p:74,x:104,y:446,w:432,h:23},
{t:"Death to our own desires is always the frst step toward ",p:74,x:134,y:473,w:427,h:23},
{t:"ongoing life in Christ. Jesus taught this through baptism, which ",p:74,x:104,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"symbolizes both death and rebirth (Matthew 3:13–17). And ",p:74,x:104,y:528,w:458,h:23},
{t:"Paul wrote about the importance of baptism to our new life ",p:74,x:104,y:556,w:457,h:23},
{t:"in Christ when he said, “We were therefore buried with him ",p:74,x:104,y:583,w:457,h:23},
{t:"through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was ",p:74,x:104,y:611,w:457,h:23},
{t:"raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too ",p:74,x:104,y:638,w:456,h:23},
{t:"may live a new life” (Romans 6:4). You may think the Christian ",p:74,x:104,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"faith would be easier if we focused only on living and completely ",p:74,x:104,y:693,w:453,h:23},
{t:"avoided the idea of death. But we need to allow God to change ",p:74,x:104,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"our view of death. ",p:74,x:104,y:748,w:132,h:23},
{t:"Pieter Ernst, a medical doctor from South Africa, has al-",p:74,x:134,y:776,w:419,h:23},
{t:"lowed God to change his view of death, and he has lived a very ",p:74,x:104,y:803,w:454,h:23},
{t:"diferent life because of it. Delaying a needed kidney transplant ",p:74,x:104,y:831,w:455,h:23},
{t:"for himself, he trained and developed hundreds of indigenous ",p:74,x:104,y:858,w:456,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:75,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"60",p:75,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"mothers to serve as health workers in the neighboring country of ",p:75,x:105,y:116,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Mozambique. Tousands of mothers and their babies regained ",p:75,x:105,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"health as a result. Out in the bush, which has become home to ",p:75,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"one of the fastest growing national churches in the world, visit-",p:75,x:105,y:198,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ing American pastors listened in amazement to the testimony of ",p:75,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"witch doctors converted as a result of observing this health work. ",p:75,x:105,y:253,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Only after this was Dr. Pieter ready for his kidney transplant.",p:75,x:105,y:281,w:431,h:23},
{t:"Te story doesn ’t end there, however. I was serving as ",p:75,x:134,y:308,w:429,h:23},
{t:"president of World Relief at the time and was returning home ",p:75,x:105,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to the U.S. after visiting the Kosovar refugee camps in Albania. ",p:75,x:105,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"I had stopped of in the U.K. to preach the Sunday services at a ",p:75,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"good friend’s church. After the last service, my friend broke the ",p:75,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"news to me: the Limpopo River in Africa had burst its banks. ",p:75,x:105,y:446,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Hundreds of people had died, half a million were homeless, and ",p:75,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"many members of my staf were missing. Included among them ",p:75,x:105,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"was Dr. Pieter Ernst.",p:75,x:105,y:528,w:146,h:23},
{t:"I immediately changed my itinerary and few to ",p:75,x:134,y:556,w:436,h:23},
{t:"Mozambique, where I joined those who were using small boats ",p:75,x:105,y:583,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to rescue hundreds of people who had survived the food by ",p:75,x:105,y:611,w:457,h:23},
{t:"climbing trees. It was quite a sight to see snakes, rats, and people ",p:75,x:105,y:638,w:454,h:23},
{t:"cohabiting on the same branches.",p:75,x:105,y:666,w:236,h:23},
{t:"Dr. Pieter was still missing. Finally, four days later, he turned ",p:75,x:134,y:693,w:423,h:23},
{t:"up unshaven and still wearing his pajama trousers. He explained ",p:75,x:105,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"how he had awakened during the night when the food hit and ",p:75,x:105,y:748,w:455,h:23},
{t:"rushed into a boat. After rescuing as many people as he could, ",p:75,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"he returned to the World Relief ofce. Tere he discovered that ",p:75,x:105,y:803,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the ofce had been looted when the water began to subside. Te ",p:75,x:105,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"money that had been carefully saved for his kidney transplant ",p:75,x:105,y:858,w:456,h:23},
{t:"61",p:76,x:542,y:935,w:11,h:19},
{t:"SACRIFICE",p:76,x:490,y:64,w:54,h:21},
{t:"was gone. Without saying a word, he went back to his boat to ",p:76,x:104,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"help rescue more of the people he loved. In such people, the ",p:76,x:104,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"spirit of the Parabolani still lives.",p:76,x:104,y:171,w:230,h:23},
{t:"Serving H im All O ur Days",p:76,x:179,y:222,w:297,h:30},
{t:"Much of the current teaching in the church concentrates ",p:76,x:135,y:263,w:427,h:23},
{t:"on how to live for Jesus. It’s time we gained a greater urgency ",p:76,x:105,y:290,w:456,h:23},
{t:"to learn what it means to die with him. In Psalm 73, the psalm-",p:76,x:105,y:318,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ist confdently declares, “You guide me with your counsel, and ",p:76,x:105,y:345,w:455,h:23},
{t:"afterward you will take me into glory” (Psalm 73:24). And the ",p:76,x:105,y:373,w:455,h:23},
{t:"apostle Paul dismisses of our present suferings compared with ",p:76,x:105,y:400,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the eternal glory that is being prepared for us (Romans 8:18; 2 ",p:76,x:105,y:428,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Corinthians 4:17; 2 Timothy 2:10). He knew that his present ",p:76,x:105,y:455,w:456,h:23},
{t:"“dying” was nothing compared to the future “living” that lay ",p:76,x:105,y:483,w:457,h:23},
{t:"ahead. He focused on “dying to live.”",p:76,x:105,y:510,w:262,h:23},
{t:"We see this idea throughout Scripture. Te prophet Isaiah ",p:76,x:135,y:538,w:425,h:23},
{t:"announced, “He will swallow up death forever. Te Sovereign ",p:76,x:105,y:565,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the ",p:76,x:105,y:593,w:454,h:23},
{t:"disgrace of his people from all the earth. Te Lord has spoken” ",p:76,x:105,y:620,w:454,h:23},
{t:"(Isaiah 25:8). Hosea says, “I will ransom them from the power ",p:76,x:105,y:648,w:455,h:23},
{t:"of the grave; I will redeem them from death” (Hosea 13:14). ",p:76,x:105,y:675,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Paul wrote, “When the perishable has been clothed with the ",p:76,x:105,y:703,w:457,h:23},
{t:"imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying ",p:76,x:105,y:730,w:455,h:23},
{t:"that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in ",p:76,x:105,y:758,w:454,h:23},
{t:"victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:54). Te true symbols of Christianity ",p:76,x:105,y:785,w:453,h:23},
{t:"are an empty cross, because Jesus completed all things necessary ",p:76,x:105,y:813,w:454,h:23},
{t:"for our salvation, and an empty tomb, because Jesus defeated ",p:76,x:105,y:840,w:456,h:23},
{t:"death.",p:76,x:105,y:868,w:43,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:77,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"62",p:77,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"A Christian dies with Christ and dies in Christ, sharing in ",p:77,x:135,y:116,w:425,h:23},
{t:"the victory that our Lord Jesus has already achieved. “[Grace] has ",p:77,x:105,y:143,w:453,h:23},
{t:"now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ ",p:77,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immor-",p:77,x:105,y:198,w:449,h:23},
{t:"tality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). Tis work ",p:77,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"is not our responsibility. We cannot defeat death—only Jesus ",p:77,x:105,y:253,w:457,h:23},
{t:"could do that—but we can now join our sacrifce with his and ",p:77,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"fnd that in dying we live. Out of death to ourselves we begin to ",p:77,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"experience resurrected life with Jesus.",p:77,x:105,y:336,w:262,h:23},
{t:"In the words of General William Booth, founder of the ",p:77,x:134,y:363,w:427,h:23},
{t:"Salvation Army, we are destined to be “promoted to glory.” In ",p:77,x:105,y:391,w:456,h:23},
{t:"line with the mission of the Parabolani, Booth called his follow-",p:77,x:105,y:418,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ers “troops of blood and fre” and militantly challenged them to ",p:77,x:105,y:446,w:454,h:23},
{t:"a life of utter abandonment to God and total discipleship to his ",p:77,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Son.",p:77,x:105,y:501,w:31,h:23},
{t:"Trough the centuries more Parabolani emerge, often ",p:77,x:134,y:528,w:431,h:23},
{t:"unheralded and unexpected. Ordinary people do extraordinary ",p:77,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"things to serve the one whose death demonstrated what he le-",p:77,x:105,y:583,w:449,h:23},
{t:"gitimately expected to receive from his followers. Te Parabolani ",p:77,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"are not extinct! Although no longer an isolated brotherhood of ",p:77,x:105,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the crucifed life, they continue in every Christian who lives as ",p:77,x:105,y:666,w:455,h:23},
{t:"though already dead.",p:77,x:105,y:693,w:147,h:23},
{t:"Father Damien was a ft and healthy man when he entered ",p:77,x:134,y:721,w:425,h:23},
{t:"the leper colonies of the Hawaiian Islands in 1865. Few paid ",p:77,x:105,y:748,w:456,h:23},
{t:"attention to him until the day he spilled boiling water on himself ",p:77,x:105,y:776,w:453,h:23},
{t:"and failed to notice the pain, signaling that he had contracted ",p:77,x:105,y:803,w:456,h:23},
{t:"their dreaded disease. Dwelling among the lepers as one of them, ",p:77,x:105,y:831,w:453,h:23},
{t:"he lived his life to glorify the kingdom of God. People recognized ",p:77,x:105,y:858,w:453,h:23},
{t:"63",p:78,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"SACRIFICE",p:78,x:490,y:64,w:54,h:21},
{t:"that one of the Parabolani, sent from God to draw near and live ",p:78,x:104,y:116,w:454,h:23},
{t:"with them, had arrived.",p:78,x:104,y:143,w:166,h:23},
{t:"Paul afrmed, “I have been crucifed with Christ and I no ",p:78,x:134,y:171,w:425,h:23},
{t:"longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Jesus died ",p:78,x:104,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"for us, and we are bought with a price; so our lives should be ",p:78,x:104,y:226,w:456,h:23},
{t:"dedicated to his use for whatever purpose he requires. Tis to-",p:78,x:104,y:253,w:449,h:23},
{t:"tally shifts our focus. We no longer live for ourselves, but rather ",p:78,x:104,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"we exist solely to obey the instructions of our Lord and King. As ",p:78,x:104,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Paul reminded his young disciple, Timothy, “Endure hardship ",p:78,x:104,y:336,w:456,h:23},
{t:"with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a ",p:78,x:104,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"soldier gets involved in civilian afairs—he wants to please his ",p:78,x:104,y:391,w:456,h:23},
{t:"commanding ofcer” (2 Timothy 2:3–4).",p:78,x:104,y:418,w:291,h:23},
{t:"Te New Testament tells of many people who knew their ",p:78,x:134,y:446,w:426,h:23},
{t:"lives needed to be laid on the line for the living God. Stephen ",p:78,x:104,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"was stoned to death as the frst martyr, John the Baptist was ",p:78,x:104,y:501,w:457,h:23},
{t:"beheaded, Peter was imprisoned, and Paul was shipwrecked. ",p:78,x:104,y:528,w:458,h:23},
{t:"None of them died to ambitions or desires to gain favor with ",p:78,x:104,y:556,w:456,h:23},
{t:"God. Tey just knew that their lives on earth would be brief and ",p:78,x:104,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"that their “citizenship” was in heaven, giving them a diferent set ",p:78,x:104,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of priorities (Philippians 3:20).",p:78,x:104,y:638,w:219,h:23},
{t:"Troughout history, Christians have followed this example. ",p:78,x:134,y:666,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Tese individuals have inherited the legacy. Tey started out ",p:78,x:104,y:693,w:457,h:23},
{t:"serving Jesus very much like you and me, but they became ",p:78,x:104,y:721,w:458,h:23},
{t:"spiritual heroes. Tey rock the boat—they are the Parabolani! ",p:78,x:104,y:748,w:456,h:23},
{t:"We need to follow in their footsteps. ",p:78,x:104,y:776,w:262,h:23},
{t:"Consider Jim Elliot, a young American who had a real im-",p:78,x:134,y:803,w:419,h:23},
{t:"pact on me when I was a child. He wrote in his diary, “He is no ",p:78,x:104,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot ",p:78,x:104,y:858,w:453,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:79,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"64",p:79,x:105,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"lose.” In 1956 Auca Indians in Ecuador speared Elliot and his ",p:79,x:105,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"four friends to death as they tried to bring them the love of Jesus. ",p:79,x:105,y:143,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Another such man, C. T. Studd, was captain of England’s ",p:79,x:134,y:171,w:426,h:23},
{t:"cricket team. Although he had great personal wealth and fame, ",p:79,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"he gave it all away. Sacrifcing everything, he responded when ",p:79,x:105,y:226,w:456,h:23},
{t:"God called him to serve as a missionary to China in 1885. In the ",p:79,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"midst of a difcult life of sufering and service, he wrote what ",p:79,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"amounted to a Parabolani obituary: “Let us see to it that the ",p:79,x:105,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"devil will hold a thanksgiving service in hell, when he gets the ",p:79,x:105,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"news of our departure from the feld of battle.”",p:79,x:105,y:363,w:330,h:23},
{t:"Prayer ",p:79,x:105,y:448,w:75,h:38},
{t:" Lord, I tremble to know what you have in store ",p:79,x:192,y:455,w:366,h:28},
{t:"for my life. Whatever it is, I want to commit all I have and am ",p:79,x:104,y:486,w:455,h:23},
{t:"into the arms of your love. Show me daily where you would have ",p:79,x:104,y:513,w:453,h:23},
{t:"me serve you. Please supply the courage, boldness, sensitivity, ",p:79,x:104,y:541,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and wisdom that I need to be a living sacrifce—for your glory! ",p:79,x:104,y:568,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Amen. ",p:79,x:104,y:596,w:51,h:23},
{t:"65",p:80,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"CHAPTER SIX",p:80,x:105,y:240,w:52,h:14},
{t:"Giving",p:80,x:105,y:292,w:112,h:69},
{t:"THE ™ME ",p:80,x:172,y:380,w:88,h:34},
{t:" SYNDROME",p:80,x:269,y:380,w:101,h:34},
{t:"Iwas meeting with a well-known pastor. Not just any ",p:80,x:165,y:489,w:395,h:69},
{t:"pastor, but a pastor among pastors. He was the author ",p:80,x:178,y:529,w:380,h:23},
{t:"of numerous books, an established voice on radio broadcasts, ",p:80,x:105,y:556,w:457,h:23},
{t:"and considered by many to be a legend in his time.",p:80,x:105,y:584,w:359,h:23},
{t:"My task was to plead on behalf of churches in a distant ",p:80,x:134,y:611,w:427,h:23},
{t:"country that needed some fnancial help. Teir own people had ",p:80,x:105,y:639,w:454,h:23},
{t:"raised 90 percent of the funds for a crucial and strategic project, ",p:80,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"but raising the last 10 percent had proven more difcult. Te ",p:80,x:105,y:694,w:456,h:23},
{t:"need was great, and the people had made huge personal sacri-",p:80,x:105,y:721,w:449,h:23},
{t:"fces. Now if only their brothers and sisters would stand with ",p:80,x:105,y:749,w:456,h:23},
{t:"them, they would be able to complete the project. ",p:80,x:105,y:776,w:357,h:23},
{t:"After I explained the situation, it was difcult to contain my ",p:80,x:134,y:804,w:424,h:23},
{t:"emotions when this pastor replied, “Well, what’s in it for us?”",p:80,x:105,y:831,w:432,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:81,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"66",p:81,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"I could hardly believe it. A national church had asked for ",p:81,x:135,y:116,w:426,h:23},
{t:"help from those who had overfowing resources and who, frankly, ",p:81,x:105,y:143,w:453,h:23},
{t:"could not use all of what they gathered. In the end, this pastor’s ",p:81,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"church gave a very nominal contribution, and other churches ",p:81,x:105,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"responded in a similar way. Te churches of the nation making ",p:81,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the request were disappointed and struggled to try to bridge the ",p:81,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"fnancial gap. ",p:81,x:105,y:281,w:98,h:23},
{t:"I could not forget those words: “What’s in it for us?” Why ",p:81,x:135,y:308,w:425,h:23},
{t:"should there be anything? Can we not love and care for each ",p:81,x:105,y:336,w:456,h:23},
{t:"other as the family of God?",p:81,x:105,y:363,w:192,h:23},
{t:"Living in a “M",p:81,x:187,y:414,w:150,h:30},
{t:"e” Cultur e",p:81,x:355,y:414,w:117,h:30},
{t:"Our culture encourages us to think there’s no one higher to ",p:81,x:135,y:455,w:424,h:23},
{t:"answer to, or to please, than ourselves. As a result, many people ",p:81,x:105,y:483,w:454,h:23},
{t:"seem to live with the attitude that “It’s all about me.” We expect ",p:81,x:105,y:510,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to get what we deserve, to receive our rights, to improve our ",p:81,x:105,y:538,w:456,h:23},
{t:"living situation, and to climb the ladder of success. ",p:81,x:105,y:565,w:362,h:23},
{t:"Sometimes the “me” culture is just as alive in the church as it ",p:81,x:135,y:593,w:423,h:23},
{t:"is in the general culture. Recently an elder of our church told me ",p:81,x:105,y:620,w:453,h:23},
{t:"that he heard a mature Christian in our congregation remark, “I ",p:81,x:105,y:648,w:454,h:23},
{t:"love Clive’s preaching—it’s so challenging. But he never makes ",p:81,x:105,y:675,w:455,h:23},
{t:"me feel good about myself.” Others report that some folks have ",p:81,x:105,y:703,w:454,h:23},
{t:"left the church because they believe it is no longer focused on ",p:81,x:105,y:730,w:456,h:23},
{t:"them and their needs. Tey are frustrated because there is too ",p:81,x:105,y:758,w:456,h:23},
{t:"much emphasis on others in the community rather than on ",p:81,x:105,y:785,w:458,h:23},
{t:"themselves. Tese might be legitimate objections. We must be ",p:81,x:105,y:813,w:456,h:23},
{t:"ready to meet each other’s needs and humble enough to recog-",p:81,x:105,y:840,w:449,h:23},
{t:"nize there are always lessons to be learned. However, at its core, ",p:81,x:105,y:868,w:454,h:23},
{t:"67",p:82,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"GIVING",p:82,x:514,y:64,w:35,h:21},
{t:"the church is not essentially about me, but about us and how ",p:82,x:104,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"we relate to those around us. As we are reminded in Scripture, ",p:82,x:104,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"“Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others” ",p:82,x:104,y:171,w:457,h:23},
{t:"(1 Corinthians 10:24).",p:82,x:104,y:198,w:160,h:23},
{t:"Te concentration on me demands that the church meet my ",p:82,x:134,y:226,w:424,h:23},
{t:"needs rather than encourage me to ofer my life in obedience to ",p:82,x:104,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Christ to serve the needs of others (Philippians 2:4). Te church ’s ",p:82,x:104,y:281,w:453,h:23},
{t:"mandate to be culturally relevant can become a dangerous snare. ",p:82,x:104,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Te challenge to meet the needs of new generations can become ",p:82,x:104,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"so distorted that we absorb the very cultural ideals we were trying ",p:82,x:104,y:363,w:453,h:23},
{t:"to transform. Te church that intended to change the world may ",p:82,x:104,y:391,w:453,h:23},
{t:"discover that the world has succeeded in changing the church.",p:82,x:104,y:418,w:437,h:23},
{t:"Reasons to Be D",p:82,x:195,y:469,w:168,h:30},
{t:"iffer ent",p:82,x:381,y:469,w:80,h:30},
{t:"On the cross Jesus gave the supreme example of cruci-",p:82,x:135,y:510,w:419,h:23},
{t:"fed love. Despite wrestling with indecision in the garden of ",p:82,x:105,y:538,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Gethsemane, his conclusion was complete. “Not my will, but ",p:82,x:105,y:565,w:456,h:23},
{t:"yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Tere was no compromise. Tat is ",p:82,x:105,y:593,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the character of the crucifed life.",p:82,x:105,y:620,w:233,h:23},
{t:"Not content merely to know what is right, such a life must ",p:82,x:135,y:648,w:425,h:23},
{t:"always live out that understanding. It was love that took Jesus to ",p:82,x:105,y:675,w:454,h:23},
{t:"a cross. Tere was nothing in his life that deserved punishment. ",p:82,x:105,y:703,w:454,h:23},
{t:"His compassion reached out to us, so it is not surprising that he ",p:82,x:105,y:730,w:454,h:23},
{t:"expects compassion and sacrifce from his disciples today. When ",p:82,x:105,y:758,w:454,h:23},
{t:"we fail to live up to his example, we discredit our Lord, and we ",p:82,x:105,y:785,w:455,h:23},
{t:"can give the impression that Christians are no diferent from ",p:82,x:105,y:813,w:457,h:23},
{t:"anyone else.",p:82,x:105,y:840,w:84,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:83,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"68",p:83,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"It was more than ten years ago when I frst visited Rwanda. ",p:83,x:135,y:116,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Like many of my generation, I was reared on stories about ",p:83,x:105,y:143,w:458,h:23},
{t:"how East Africa was transformed by God in the mid-twentieth ",p:83,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"century. Now I could witness the results frsthand. But the frst ",p:83,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"thing I noticed at the airport was the bullet holes. Tey were a ",p:83,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"vivid reminder that two years earlier Rwanda had experienced ",p:83,x:105,y:253,w:456,h:23},
{t:"a horrible genocide. Hundreds of thousands of bodies still re-",p:83,x:105,y:281,w:449,h:23},
{t:"mained unidentifed. Te violence was ofcially over, yet fear ",p:83,x:105,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and uncertainty still pervaded the atmosphere in the capital city ",p:83,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of Kigali.",p:83,x:105,y:363,w:65,h:23},
{t:"It was painful to recall that in the middle of the twentieth ",p:83,x:135,y:391,w:425,h:23},
{t:"century Rwanda was known to the Western church for its spec-",p:83,x:105,y:418,w:449,h:23},
{t:"tacular role in the East African revival. Tis was one of the most ",p:83,x:105,y:446,w:454,h:23},
{t:"exciting outbreaks of spiritual growth in modern history. As the ",p:83,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"years passed, the message continued, but the lifestyle was lost. ",p:83,x:105,y:501,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Now the airport in Kigali tragically gave witness to a diferent ",p:83,x:105,y:528,w:456,h:23},
{t:"truth. Tribal killing was alive and well, and the revival had died ",p:83,x:105,y:556,w:454,h:23},
{t:"out.",p:83,x:105,y:583,w:28,h:23},
{t:"At the time of my visit, I served as the president of World ",p:83,x:135,y:611,w:425,h:23},
{t:"Relief, a Christian relief and development agency. On this trip I ",p:83,x:105,y:638,w:454,h:23},
{t:"was particularly impressed by the quality of our Christian staf. ",p:83,x:105,y:666,w:455,h:23},
{t:"One of those who stood out was Beatrice. Late one afternoon ",p:83,x:105,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"she broke into a food of tears and shared a shocking story with ",p:83,x:105,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"my wife Ruth and I about the difculty of serving Christ in ",p:83,x:105,y:748,w:457,h:23},
{t:"post-genocide Rwanda.",p:83,x:105,y:776,w:165,h:23},
{t:"Te genocide in Rwanda had emerged from decades of ",p:83,x:135,y:803,w:428,h:23},
{t:"tribal hatred between the Hutus and the Tutsis. Ethnically, our ",p:83,x:105,y:831,w:455,h:23},
{t:"staf was pretty equally divided between the two, and there ",p:83,x:105,y:858,w:458,h:23},
{t:"69",p:84,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"GIVING",p:84,x:514,y:64,w:35,h:21},
{t:"were a few instances of overt racial hatred. However, this was ",p:84,x:104,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"the post-genocide era, and memories of the awful atrocities that ",p:84,x:104,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"had taken place were still fresh. Beatrice’s young husband was a ",p:84,x:104,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"pastor. Tey were highly talented people and deeply in love. Te ",p:84,x:104,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"afternoon of our visit, a young man had visited the compound ",p:84,x:104,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"containing the World Relief ofces. Many of the staf leaped ",p:84,x:104,y:253,w:457,h:23},
{t:"up to greet him as a well-known brother in Christ. But the last ",p:84,x:104,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"time Beatrice had seen this man was during the genocide when ",p:84,x:104,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"he held her husband on the ground and viciously kicked him. ",p:84,x:104,y:336,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Her husband could have died. Subsequently, there had been no ",p:84,x:104,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"restitution or apology. ",p:84,x:104,y:391,w:160,h:23},
{t:"Beatrice knew the staf from the other tribal group knew ",p:84,x:134,y:418,w:426,h:23},
{t:"the story, yet they did not hesitate to enjoy a time of friendly ",p:84,x:104,y:446,w:456,h:23},
{t:"fellowship with their Christian brother. To write of the beating ",p:84,x:104,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Beatrice’s husband received as an isolated incident would be ",p:84,x:104,y:501,w:458,h:23},
{t:"wrong. After all, 900 thousand people died in an orgy of killing ",p:84,x:104,y:528,w:454,h:23},
{t:"that raged across one of the most Christian places on the planet.",p:84,x:104,y:556,w:449,h:23},
{t:"Tere were other people on the World Relief staf who ",p:84,x:134,y:583,w:428,h:23},
{t:"acted as heroes during those days. Grasping the paradox of the ",p:84,x:104,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"crucifed life, they understood that Christians should stand out ",p:84,x:104,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"from the crowd and live diferently. Some risked their lives to ",p:84,x:104,y:666,w:456,h:23},
{t:"save the lives of those who were regarded as their tribal enemies. ",p:84,x:104,y:693,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Tey remembered the principles upon which the revival had ",p:84,x:104,y:721,w:457,h:23},
{t:"been grounded, though others had forgotten the demands of the ",p:84,x:104,y:748,w:454,h:23},
{t:"crucifed life.",p:84,x:104,y:776,w:92,h:23},
{t:"Jesus taught his disciples that they should have a radically ",p:84,x:134,y:803,w:426,h:23},
{t:"diferent attitude toward their enemies than most would expect. ",p:84,x:104,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate ",p:84,x:104,y:858,w:455,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:85,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"70",p:85,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for ",p:85,x:105,y:116,w:457,h:23},
{t:"those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43–44). Te apostle Paul ",p:85,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"underlined this in the instruction “If your enemy is hungry, ",p:85,x:105,y:171,w:457,h:23},
{t:"feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink” (Romans ",p:85,x:105,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"12:20). ",p:85,x:105,y:226,w:56,h:23},
{t:"Te tragedy is that so many of us are overwhelmed by the ",p:85,x:134,y:253,w:425,h:23},
{t:"“me” syndrome. We have been brainwashed by our culture to ",p:85,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"such an extent that we cannot conceive of subordinating our ",p:85,x:105,y:308,w:457,h:23},
{t:"self-interest for the beneft of others. Tat is an awful indictment ",p:85,x:105,y:336,w:453,h:23},
{t:"upon our faith. Christ-followers are to be holy (the Greek word ",p:85,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"is hagios, which means “dedicated” or “consecrated”). Tis does ",p:85,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"not mean we separate from everyone else. It means that a life ",p:85,x:105,y:418,w:456,h:23},
{t:"prepared to die with Christ is to be lived for others.",p:85,x:105,y:446,w:363,h:23},
{t:"Living a N",p:85,x:229,y:497,w:107,h:30},
{t:"ew Life",p:85,x:349,y:497,w:73,h:30},
{t:"True Christian faith begins with what I lose, not with what ",p:85,x:135,y:538,w:425,h:23},
{t:"I get. Jesus said to his frst disciples, “Whoever wants to save ",p:85,x:104,y:565,w:457,h:23},
{t:"his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will fnd it” ",p:85,x:104,y:593,w:454,h:23},
{t:"(Matthew 16:25).",p:85,x:104,y:620,w:126,h:23},
{t:"Too many of us have lived under a misconception. We ",p:85,x:134,y:648,w:428,h:23},
{t:"thought that the presence of Jesus, the ministry of the church, ",p:85,x:104,y:675,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and the Christian life were simply for us. Tere are those, includ-",p:85,x:104,y:703,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ing a myriad of TV evangelists, who claim that we are entitled ",p:85,x:104,y:730,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to perfect health and all the wealth we could reasonably desire. ",p:85,x:104,y:758,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Not so! How can this be the case since Jesus acknowledged, ",p:85,x:104,y:785,w:457,h:23},
{t:"“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of ",p:85,x:104,y:813,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Man has no place to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20)? Jesus and his ",p:85,x:104,y:840,w:454,h:23},
{t:"disciples owned so little that when he and Simon Peter needed to ",p:85,x:104,y:868,w:453,h:23},
{t:"71",p:86,x:543,y:935,w:10,h:19},
{t:"GIVING",p:86,x:514,y:64,w:35,h:21},
{t:"pay their tax bill they had to borrow a coin from the mouth of a ",p:86,x:104,y:116,w:454,h:23},
{t:"fsh (Matthew 17:27). In every instance God provides—though ",p:86,x:104,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to meet our basic needs, not to create a mountain of cash for our ",p:86,x:104,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"beneft. ",p:86,x:104,y:198,w:57,h:23},
{t:"Te crucifed life moves us from the “me” syndrome to the ",p:86,x:134,y:226,w:425,h:23},
{t:"idea that the Christian life is not just about keeping me alive ",p:86,x:104,y:253,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and well. Rather, it is about Christ living in me and through me ",p:86,x:104,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"(Galatians 2:20). Suddenly the emphasis moves from methods ",p:86,x:104,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of self-improvement for my old life toward discovering a life in ",p:86,x:104,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Christ that must be radically diferent. Tis is the heart of the ",p:86,x:104,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"issue. Christianity is not a subculture that I acquire or an experience ",p:86,x:104,y:391,w:453,h:23},
{t:"to add to my old way of living.",p:86,x:104,y:418,w:206,h:23},
{t:"Although the blessings of eternity do lie ahead of us, w",p:86,x:134,y:446,w:392,h:23},
{t:"e ",p:86,x:547,y:446,w:12,h:23},
{t:"are called in this life to ser",p:86,x:104,y:473,w:180,h:23},
{t:"ve Christ. I n this gloriously upside-",p:86,x:296,y:473,w:250,h:23},
{t:"down kingdom, Jesus reverses all that w e might expect or ",p:86,x:104,y:501,w:457,h:23},
{t:"that the carnal Christian might want. I",p:86,x:104,y:528,w:273,h:23},
{t:"t is not about me; it is ",p:86,x:392,y:528,w:158,h:23},
{t:"about Jesus. Only in losing our liv",p:86,x:104,y:556,w:243,h:23},
{t:"es to him can w e fnd them ",p:86,x:356,y:556,w:202,h:23},
{t:"again. As J esus warned, “ Any of you who does not giv e up ",p:86,x:104,y:583,w:456,h:23},
{t:"everything he has cannot be my disciple ” (Luke 14:33). His ",p:86,x:104,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"primary objective is not that w e look to ourselv es, but that ",p:86,x:104,y:638,w:456,h:23},
{t:"we ask how God wants to equip us and make us the means b",p:86,x:104,y:666,w:425,h:23},
{t:"y ",p:86,x:546,y:666,w:12,h:23},
{t:"which he can bless others. Ten w",p:86,x:104,y:693,w:249,h:23},
{t:"e truly discover ourselv es ",p:86,x:366,y:693,w:194,h:23},
{t:"and our destiny .",p:86,x:104,y:721,w:118,h:23},
{t:"At that point a real Christian is born—one who just might ",p:86,x:134,y:748,w:425,h:23},
{t:"show the world the something diferent that has been desperately ",p:86,x:104,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"missing. As disciples of Christ, we will be doing the will of God ",p:86,x:104,y:803,w:454,h:23},
{t:"from our heart (Ephesians 6:6), and that makes the hearts of ",p:86,x:104,y:831,w:456,h:23},
{t:"others pay attention!",p:86,x:104,y:858,w:145,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:87,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"72",p:87,x:105,y:935,w:11,h:19},
{t:"A few years ago a group of salesmen were running through ",p:87,x:135,y:116,w:425,h:23},
{t:"Chicago ’s O’Hare Airport after a sales convention. Tey all had ",p:87,x:105,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"spouses and families expecting them home for Friday dinner, ",p:87,x:105,y:171,w:457,h:23},
{t:"assuming that they reached their plane on time. In the rush to ",p:87,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the gate one of them accidentally knocked over a vendor’s table ",p:87,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"of apples. In spite of the apples rolling across the terminal foor, ",p:87,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"all but one of the men caught the plane in time.",p:87,x:105,y:281,w:338,h:23},
{t:"Tis one person paid attention to the tug of compassion for ",p:87,x:135,y:308,w:424,h:23},
{t:"the girl whose table had been knocked over. He told his buddies ",p:87,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"he’d be on the later fight, and none ofered to join him. He ",p:87,x:105,y:363,w:457,h:23},
{t:"walked back to the place where people were still dodging the ",p:87,x:105,y:391,w:456,h:23},
{t:"scattered apples, and he was soon glad that he did. ",p:87,x:105,y:418,w:359,h:23},
{t:"Te sixteen-year-old apple seller was blind. Down on her ",p:87,x:135,y:446,w:426,h:23},
{t:"hands and knees, she was groping for the spilled produce, unable ",p:87,x:105,y:473,w:453,h:23},
{t:"to assess how much each was damaged. So the salesman did it ",p:87,x:105,y:501,w:455,h:23},
{t:"for her. He picked up the apples, examined them, and gave her ",p:87,x:105,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"forty dollars for the battered fruit. When the job was done, he ",p:87,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"apologized to the tearful and bewildered blind girl and turned ",p:87,x:105,y:583,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to fnd a later fight. As he walked away, he heard the girl quietly ",p:87,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"ask, “Are you Jesus?” Taken aback, he paused mid-stride and ",p:87,x:105,y:638,w:457,h:23},
{t:"thought, Wasn",p:87,x:105,y:666,w:102,h:23},
{t:"’t this well worth the delay?",p:87,x:205,y:666,w:182,h:23},
{t:"Let’s face it. For most of us Christians the idea of being ",p:87,x:135,y:693,w:427,h:23},
{t:"mistaken for Jesus is highly appealing. Deep down we long to ",p:87,x:105,y:721,w:456,h:23},
{t:"so resemble Jesus that our world would struggle to tell the dif-",p:87,x:105,y:748,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ference. Like me, perhaps you would want to be that salesman. I ",p:87,x:105,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"wish my life was so lost in God that I would have responded as ",p:87,x:105,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"he did. Te trouble is that I know myself too well. ",p:87,x:105,y:831,w:358,h:23},
{t:"73",p:88,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"GIVING",p:88,x:514,y:64,w:35,h:21},
{t:"Under N ew Management",p:88,x:190,y:115,w:268,h:30},
{t:"Te fellow who went back to the apple seller responded in a ",p:88,x:135,y:156,w:424,h:23},
{t:"wholly diferent way than the others. Tey responded with their ",p:88,x:105,y:183,w:454,h:23},
{t:"“feshly” desires; these are the impulses that once controlled our ",p:88,x:105,y:211,w:454,h:23},
{t:"lives. Yet Scripture reminds us, “We know that our old self was ",p:88,x:105,y:238,w:455,h:23},
{t:"crucifed with him so that the body of sin might be done away ",p:88,x:105,y:266,w:455,h:23},
{t:"with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6). ",p:88,x:105,y:293,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Here is the key. Te feshly impulse that rules our lives must be ",p:88,x:105,y:321,w:454,h:23},
{t:"condemned to death. Te only thing that Christ can do for the ",p:88,x:105,y:348,w:456,h:23},
{t:"rule of the old self is to kill it. Te instrument of death to the ",p:88,x:105,y:376,w:455,h:23},
{t:"fesh is a cross.",p:88,x:105,y:403,w:102,h:23},
{t:"It is hard to fnd many positive things to say about life on ",p:88,x:135,y:431,w:425,h:23},
{t:"a cross. You cannot come down from it voluntarily. You cannot ",p:88,x:105,y:458,w:455,h:23},
{t:"dismiss the disgrace of your position. You cannot determine your ",p:88,x:105,y:486,w:453,h:23},
{t:"future from a cross. Tere is one positive thing to say. Life from ",p:88,x:105,y:513,w:454,h:23},
{t:"a cross is the perfect antidote to the “me” syndrome. Viewed ",p:88,x:105,y:541,w:457,h:23},
{t:"from the cross, my life, my rights, and my future no longer lie in ",p:88,x:105,y:568,w:454,h:23},
{t:"my power or in my hands. In fact, my life can only follow his ",p:88,x:105,y:596,w:455,h:23},
{t:"instructions, and my task is simply to obey his leading.",p:88,x:105,y:623,w:387,h:23},
{t:"Jesus does not respond to our demands, but he does ofer ",p:88,x:134,y:651,w:426,h:23},
{t:"us all that he knows is necessary for our lives. He calls us to be ",p:88,x:105,y:678,w:455,h:23},
{t:"open to his instruction. Rather than blessing our own agenda, ",p:88,x:105,y:706,w:455,h:23},
{t:"he wants to undertake the direction for us. Tat is the reason ",p:88,x:105,y:733,w:456,h:23},
{t:"God’s great gift to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus was ",p:88,x:105,y:761,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to make him blind. When Paul could not see where he was ",p:88,x:105,y:788,w:457,h:23},
{t:"going, he needed to ask for direction. Even after regaining his ",p:88,x:105,y:816,w:456,h:23},
{t:"eyesight, Paul was content to rely on God’s guidance. He could ",p:88,x:105,y:843,w:454,h:23},
{t:"confdently announce, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is ",p:88,x:105,y:871,w:454,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:89,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"74",p:89,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"gain” (Philippians 1:21). For Paul, the governance of “me” had ",p:89,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"fnally and irretrievably broken down. He had discovered how to ",p:89,x:105,y:143,w:453,h:23},
{t:"blindly follow his God. ",p:89,x:105,y:171,w:168,h:23},
{t:"And so must we. ",p:89,x:134,y:198,w:122,h:23},
{t:"Prayer ",p:89,x:105,y:283,w:75,h:38},
{t:" Father, in a world where everything revolves ",p:89,x:196,y:290,w:365,h:28},
{t:"around me, I long to be diferent. Help me to live selfessly for ",p:89,x:105,y:321,w:455,h:23},
{t:"others. Please live in me so the world may see the reality of your ",p:89,x:105,y:348,w:454,h:23},
{t:"love and life demonstrated in all I say and do. To the glory of ",p:89,x:105,y:376,w:456,h:23},
{t:"your name, Amen.",p:89,x:105,y:403,w:132,h:23},
{t:"75",p:90,x:542,y:935,w:11,h:19},
{t:"CHAPTER SEVEN",p:90,x:105,y:240,w:66,h:14},
{t:"Exchange",p:90,x:105,y:292,w:181,h:69},
{t:"A ROYAL TRANSFER",p:90,x:172,y:380,w:171,h:34},
{t:"Have you ever wanted to be diferent? Not just an ",p:90,x:165,y:489,w:397,h:69},
{t:"improved version of yourself, but a whole diferent ",p:90,x:190,y:529,w:369,h:23},
{t:"character in life? It is a common fantasy: to be born as a com-",p:90,x:105,y:556,w:449,h:23},
{t:"pletely diferent person. Some would be a princess or a president; ",p:90,x:105,y:584,w:453,h:23},
{t:"others would live as a business tycoon or a rock star. Whatever ",p:90,x:105,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the fantasy, it begins with the desire to change something about ",p:90,x:105,y:639,w:454,h:23},
{t:"yourself that you are unsatisfed with.",p:90,x:105,y:666,w:264,h:23},
{t:"Here is a story from my youth that I’ve never told pub-",p:90,x:134,y:694,w:419,h:23},
{t:"licly. I have always loved sports—watching them rather than ",p:90,x:105,y:721,w:451,h:23},
{t:"participating in them. I always wanted to play spor",p:90,x:105,y:749,w:382,h:23},
{t:"ts when ",p:90,x:496,y:749,w:64,h:23},
{t:"I was young, but I was rarely selected because I wasn",p:90,x:105,y:776,w:400,h:23},
{t:"’ t very ",p:90,x:508,y:776,w:53,h:23},
{t:"good! One day when I was four teen, though, an oppor tunity ",p:90,x:105,y:804,w:455,h:23},
{t:"arrived. My school was short a participant for the one-mile ",p:90,x:105,y:831,w:452,h:23},
{t:"race. No one else was eligible because they w",p:90,x:105,y:859,w:332,h:23},
{t:"ere involved in ",p:90,x:444,y:859,w:116,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:91,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"76",p:91,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"other activities. It wouldn’t matter where I placed, since only ",p:91,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"three other runners were registered for the event. All I had to ",p:91,x:105,y:143,w:452,h:23},
{t:"do was to show up at the fnish line. E ven if I came in last, I ",p:91,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"would gain one point for the team!",p:91,x:105,y:198,w:247,h:23},
{t:"After carefully thinking things through, I decided to run. ",p:91,x:134,y:226,w:426,h:23},
{t:"But I didn ’t want to make a fool of myself in front of my friends ",p:91,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and the visiting parents. So I trained hard to get ready for my big ",p:91,x:105,y:281,w:453,h:23},
{t:"opportunity. My parents bought new running shoes for me, and ",p:91,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"I imagined myself running to win.",p:91,x:105,y:336,w:243,h:23},
{t:"Te fnal curve of the last lap remains in my mind to this ",p:91,x:134,y:363,w:425,h:23},
{t:"day. Although I was behind the other three runners, the guy ",p:91,x:105,y:391,w:457,h:23},
{t:"in front of me was not far ahead. If only I could come in third ",p:91,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"instead of last. Poised to move past him, I knew I was ready to ",p:91,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"meet the challenge . . . but I just couldn ’t do it. I fnished the ",p:91,x:105,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"race, but I came in last. My brief athletic career ended.",p:91,x:105,y:501,w:385,h:23},
{t:"So many of us live with an internal contradiction. We want ",p:91,x:134,y:528,w:424,h:23},
{t:"to be diferent, but some ingredient is missing. So we try to be ",p:91,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"satisfed with less than the desire of our hearts.",p:91,x:105,y:583,w:327,h:23},
{t:"Change Comes fr",p:91,x:187,y:634,w:176,h:30},
{t:"om God",p:91,x:382,y:634,w:88,h:30},
{t:"God desires us to be diferent from the world around us, ",p:91,x:135,y:675,w:426,h:23},
{t:"but real change must be based on his perspective rather than on ",p:91,x:105,y:703,w:454,h:23},
{t:"ours. An example of this is Moses. After his childhood rescue ",p:91,x:105,y:730,w:456,h:23},
{t:"from Pharaoh ’s extermination squads, he spent forty years in the ",p:91,x:105,y:758,w:454,h:23},
{t:"palace—feeling, as a prince of Egypt, that he was “somebody.” ",p:91,x:105,y:785,w:455,h:23},
{t:"But when he spotted an Egyptian abusing a Hebrew, one of ",p:91,x:105,y:813,w:457,h:23},
{t:"his own people, Moses murdered the Egyptian in retaliation. ",p:91,x:105,y:840,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Since his action was seen by others, he fed for his life into the ",p:91,x:105,y:868,w:455,h:23},
{t:"77",p:92,x:542,y:935,w:11,h:19},
{t:"EXCHANGE",p:92,x:491,y:64,w:55,h:21},
{t:"wilderness of Midian. He spent the next forty years herding ",p:92,x:104,y:116,w:457,h:23},
{t:"sheep in desolate areas, realizing every day that he had become ",p:92,x:104,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"“nobody.”",p:92,x:104,y:171,w:69,h:23},
{t:"Alone with his fock one day on “",p:92,x:134,y:198,w:264,h:23},
{t:"the far side of the ",p:92,x:409,y:198,w:147,h:23},
{t:"desert,” Moses saw a bush that was on fr",p:92,x:104,y:226,w:302,h:23},
{t:"e but not burning ",p:92,x:418,y:226,w:142,h:23},
{t:"up (Exodus 3:1–2). O ut of that bush, G od called M oses to ",p:92,x:104,y:253,w:453,h:23},
{t:"do more, and be more, than seemed possible to M",p:92,x:104,y:281,w:380,h:23},
{t:"oses. So ",p:92,x:495,y:281,w:66,h:23},
{t:"reluctant Moses employed a mountain of ex cuses to explain ",p:92,x:104,y:308,w:450,h:23},
{t:"to the Lor d why this “nobody” could nev er be “somebody ” ",p:92,x:104,y:336,w:456,h:23},
{t:"again. But none of these ex cuses persuaded G od. He knew ",p:92,x:104,y:363,w:456,h:23},
{t:"something that Moses didn’t. God knew that the issue wasn’t ",p:92,x:104,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"changing Moses; instead, it was a matter of M",p:92,x:104,y:418,w:341,h:23},
{t:"oses learning ",p:92,x:459,y:418,w:102,h:23},
{t:"that God could liv e through him . ",p:92,x:104,y:446,w:239,h:23},
{t:"Simon Peter learned the same lesson. He was the frst to ",p:92,x:134,y:473,w:427,h:23},
{t:"recognize and afrm who Jesus was: the Messiah and the Son ",p:92,x:104,y:501,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of God (Matthew 16:16; John 6:69). Such statements were ",p:92,x:104,y:528,w:458,h:23},
{t:"dangerous. Tey could have precipitated a charge of blasphemy, ",p:92,x:104,y:556,w:454,h:23},
{t:"especially if heard by the Jewish religious leaders. Yet just weeks ",p:92,x:104,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"later Peter denied knowing Jesus. Not once, not twice, but three ",p:92,x:104,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"times he passionately disowned his friend and Lord. Desperate ",p:92,x:104,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"tears came as Peter realized his own courage and confdence ",p:92,x:104,y:666,w:457,h:23},
{t:"hadn ’t been enough to overcome fear; he had done the very thing ",p:92,x:104,y:693,w:453,h:23},
{t:"he had promised not to do (Mark 14:72).",p:92,x:104,y:721,w:294,h:23},
{t:"If these great men of faith could not direct their own destiny ",p:92,x:134,y:748,w:423,h:23},
{t:"or change their own lives, then what hope is there for us? How ",p:92,x:104,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"were their lives eventually transformed? Did they learn to work ",p:92,x:104,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"harder? Or does the revolution of one’s life need to originate ",p:92,x:104,y:831,w:457,h:23},
{t:"with God rather than with the individual?",p:92,x:104,y:858,w:296,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:93,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"78",p:93,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"Do-It-Yourself Christianity",p:93,x:175,y:115,w:285,h:30},
{t:"Often we respond to our need to change by trying harder. ",p:93,x:135,y:156,w:425,h:23},
{t:"We seek the advice of books, CDs, sermons, and articles that tell ",p:93,x:105,y:183,w:454,h:23},
{t:"us how we can become diferent. Te notion of trying harder can ",p:93,x:105,y:211,w:453,h:23},
{t:"sound incredibly “Christian.” But is it really? It began near the ",p:93,x:105,y:238,w:455,h:23},
{t:"end of the nineteenth century with the Victorian author Samuel ",p:93,x:105,y:266,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Smiles and his little book entitled Self-Help. Tis theme has ",p:93,x:105,y:293,w:458,h:23},
{t:"been reworked through movements and methods from Moral ",p:93,x:105,y:321,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Re-Armament to the ABCs of Conversion (Accept, Believe, ",p:93,x:105,y:348,w:458,h:23},
{t:"Confess, Decide). Each ofers a simple process: we take action, ",p:93,x:105,y:376,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and we change our lives. Of course, such simple remedies often ",p:93,x:105,y:403,w:455,h:23},
{t:"miss the point. ",p:93,x:105,y:431,w:109,h:23},
{t:"Rather than the clamor of “try harder,” “do better,” “give ",p:93,x:134,y:458,w:427,h:23},
{t:"more,” “go further,” and “work at it,” could God be asking for ",p:93,x:105,y:486,w:455,h:23},
{t:"something diferent? Just as Moses tried to fulfll God’s purpose ",p:93,x:105,y:513,w:454,h:23},
{t:"by killing the Egyptian, our activities can be counterproductive. ",p:93,x:105,y:541,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Even with the best motivation in the world, Moses became a ",p:93,x:105,y:568,w:456,h:23},
{t:"murderer rather than a missionary.",p:93,x:105,y:596,w:244,h:23},
{t:"Our world is full of people urging us toward self-improve-",p:93,x:134,y:623,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ment. Isn ’t it time to “be still” and “wait for God” instead of trying ",p:93,x:105,y:651,w:452,h:23},
{t:"to do it all for him? Perhaps we are beyond improvement. Are we ",p:93,x:105,y:678,w:453,h:23},
{t:"too far gone for subtle change to efect any major diference?",p:93,x:105,y:706,w:427,h:23},
{t:"Scripture teaches that in our feshly capacity we cannot ",p:93,x:135,y:733,w:428,h:23},
{t:"genuinely be altered or really make a diference for God. Te ",p:93,x:105,y:761,w:456,h:23},
{t:"apostle Paul had to learn this lesson. He openly acknowledged, ",p:93,x:105,y:788,w:455,h:23},
{t:"“I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ",p:93,x:105,y:816,w:455,h:23},
{t:"For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do ",p:93,x:105,y:843,w:456,h:23},
{t:"not want to do—this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:18–19). His ",p:93,x:105,y:871,w:455,h:23},
{t:"79",p:94,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"EXCHANGE",p:94,x:491,y:64,w:55,h:21},
{t:"conclusion was that in his sinful nature he could only be a slave ",p:94,x:104,y:116,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to sin (Romans 7:25). Trough his own eforts he could never ",p:94,x:104,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"fulfll God’s intention for his life.",p:94,x:104,y:171,w:233,h:23},
{t:"Yet, we long for a program that will fnally bring us into all ",p:94,x:134,y:198,w:425,h:23},
{t:"that God has prepared for us. But just when we think we have ",p:94,x:104,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"arrived, we discover that such a path is an illusion. It never takes ",p:94,x:104,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"us far enough. Still, we try to produce the change that only God ",p:94,x:104,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"can bring.",p:94,x:104,y:308,w:71,h:23},
{t:"Does this mean that we need not discipline ourselves to ",p:94,x:134,y:336,w:427,h:23},
{t:"spend time in God’s Word? Does it mean letting our minds stray ",p:94,x:104,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"rather than focusing on the practice of prayer? Is it okay to shirk ",p:94,x:104,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"commitments to others because we don ’t hear God telling us to ",p:94,x:104,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"fulfll our obligations? No, of course not! Spiritual disciplines are ",p:94,x:104,y:446,w:453,h:23},
{t:"good and necessary, but without the presence of God they are ",p:94,x:104,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"inadequate and lead us nowhere. Te question is whether these ",p:94,x:104,y:501,w:455,h:23},
{t:"eforts will deliver the amazing do-it-yourself transformation we ",p:94,x:104,y:528,w:454,h:23},
{t:"long for; or do we need some other help to complete this inner ",p:94,x:104,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"renovation? ",p:94,x:104,y:583,w:85,h:23},
{t:"Te fnal conclusion is that no study, discipline, self-",p:94,x:134,y:611,w:419,h:23},
{t:"assessment, spiritual experience, author, or program—even if ",p:94,x:104,y:638,w:458,h:23},
{t:"helpful—has ever succeeded in making us the people in God ",p:94,x:104,y:666,w:456,h:23},
{t:"we want to be. Face up to it: we somehow always fall short of ",p:94,x:104,y:693,w:455,h:23},
{t:"achieving it for ourselves. ",p:94,x:104,y:721,w:183,h:23},
{t:"Try Exchanging Liv",p:94,x:209,y:772,w:207,h:30},
{t:"es",p:94,x:430,y:772,w:19,h:30},
{t:"It was Christmastime and I was speaking to several hundred ",p:94,x:135,y:813,w:424,h:23},
{t:"young people at a carol service. Te challenge I faced was to ",p:94,x:105,y:840,w:457,h:23},
{t:"explain why a baby born in a manger two thousand years ago ",p:94,x:105,y:868,w:456,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:95,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"80",p:95,x:105,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"was relevant to their lives right there and then. I was in Europe, ",p:95,x:105,y:116,w:454,h:23},
{t:"where there is a greater awareness of soccer than Scripture, so I ",p:95,x:105,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"tried a sporting analogy. I selected one young fellow and asked ",p:95,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"him to imagine playing football like one of the stars of the last ",p:95,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"ffty years. I told him to imagine the spirit of Pelé, Eusébio, or ",p:95,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"George Best invading his life and giving him the power to play ",p:95,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"like a star. How diferent would his life be? ",p:95,x:105,y:281,w:306,h:23},
{t:"Some years later that man told me the illustration caused ",p:95,x:134,y:308,w:426,h:23},
{t:"him to start thinking about spiritual matters. He eventually ",p:95,x:105,y:336,w:458,h:23},
{t:"exchanged his life, and today he is a preacher. Tat is why Jesus ",p:95,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"came, not just to be believed in or talked about, but so that we ",p:95,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"might surrender our lives to him and allow his life to be lived ",p:95,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"through us. ",p:95,x:105,y:446,w:86,h:23},
{t:"Could it be that some of us have been looking in the wrong ",p:95,x:134,y:473,w:424,h:23},
{t:"direction or to the wrong source? When we begin to look up ",p:95,x:105,y:501,w:456,h:23},
{t:"toward Jesus, rather than down toward ourselves, we begin to ",p:95,x:105,y:528,w:456,h:23},
{t:"take hold of the right answer. Te true secret of Christianity is ",p:95,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"not a changed life, but an exchanged life, as we stop trying to live ",p:95,x:105,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"for God and allow him to live through us.",p:95,x:105,y:611,w:296,h:23},
{t:"When Peter realized that he could not remain faithful to ",p:95,x:134,y:638,w:427,h:23},
{t:"Jesus, even with his good intentions, he wept (Mark 14:66–72). ",p:95,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"When Paul understood that Jesus really was the Lord, he was ",p:95,x:105,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"blinded and led by the hand to a home in Damascus (Acts ",p:95,x:105,y:721,w:458,h:23},
{t:"9:1–9). When Moses realized that an ordinary bush could be ",p:95,x:105,y:748,w:456,h:23},
{t:"flled with God, he was commanded to take of his shoes, for he ",p:95,x:105,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"was standing on holy ground (Exodus 3:1–5).",p:95,x:105,y:803,w:323,h:23},
{t:"Each experience was a deep response to the presence of ",p:95,x:134,y:831,w:428,h:23},
{t:"God:",p:95,x:105,y:858,w:36,h:23},
{t:"81",p:96,x:542,y:935,w:11,h:19},
{t:"EXCHANGE",p:96,x:491,y:64,w:55,h:21},
{t:"•	",p:96,x:135,y:116,w:11,h:23},
{t:"To be so flled with remorse for past failures that you ",p:96,x:164,y:116,w:376,h:23},
{t:"weep.",p:96,x:164,y:143,w:40,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:96,x:135,y:171,w:11,h:23},
{t:"To be so dependent for direction that you no longer ",p:96,x:164,y:171,w:371,h:23},
{t:"know where you are going in your own strength.",p:96,x:164,y:198,w:343,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:96,x:135,y:226,w:11,h:23},
{t:"To humble yourself and stop trying to become ",p:96,x:164,y:226,w:332,h:23},
{t:"“somebody,” knowing that God can fll the most ",p:96,x:164,y:253,w:346,h:23},
{t:"unlikely of people and bring transformation—for his ",p:96,x:164,y:281,w:378,h:23},
{t:"glory.",p:96,x:164,y:308,w:39,h:23},
{t:"Here we begin to see it is not our abilities that God is after. ",p:96,x:135,y:343,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Nor is he just seeking the opportunity to refne those abilities. ",p:96,x:104,y:371,w:456,h:23},
{t:"No, it is our availability and dependency that he wants so that ",p:96,x:104,y:398,w:456,h:23},
{t:"he can do what he wills in us. Living a victorious Christian ",p:96,x:104,y:426,w:457,h:23},
{t:"life does not begin with a program or a technique, but with an ",p:96,x:104,y:453,w:455,h:23},
{t:"understanding. Paul demonstrates this when he states that the ",p:96,x:104,y:481,w:456,h:23},
{t:"entire purpose of his life is to “gain Christ and be found in him” ",p:96,x:104,y:508,w:454,h:23},
{t:"(Philippians 3:8–9). Te essence of Christianity does not lie in ",p:96,x:104,y:536,w:455,h:23},
{t:"me trying to live for Jesus, but in knowing the truth that “I no ",p:96,x:104,y:563,w:455,h:23},
{t:"longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). ",p:96,x:104,y:591,w:371,h:23},
{t:"Looking U p",p:96,x:262,y:642,w:135,h:30},
{t:"Here is a revolutionary principle: life doesn ’t depend upon ",p:96,x:135,y:683,w:425,h:23},
{t:"me, but upon Jesus! “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we ",p:96,x:105,y:710,w:455,h:23},
{t:"die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to ",p:96,x:105,y:738,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the Lord” (Romans 14:8). It is not about me, as I gaze down at ",p:96,x:105,y:765,w:454,h:23},
{t:"all my weaknesses and failings. No, it is about him and my gaze ",p:96,x:105,y:793,w:454,h:23},
{t:"upward to the one who longs to do it all in me. “For to me, to ",p:96,x:105,y:820,w:455,h:23},
{t:"live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).",p:96,x:105,y:848,w:357,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:97,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"82",p:97,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"Gazing up guarantees that we are looking in the right direc-",p:97,x:135,y:116,w:419,h:23},
{t:"tion. Two laws, or principles, are at work:",p:97,x:105,y:143,w:292,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:97,x:135,y:178,w:11,h:23},
{t:"When I fx my eyes upon Jesus, then I take them of ",p:97,x:164,y:178,w:372,h:23},
{t:"me.",p:97,x:164,y:206,w:26,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:97,x:135,y:233,w:11,h:23},
{t:"When I take my eyes of myself, then I can see Jesus.",p:97,x:164,y:233,w:371,h:23},
{t:"Keith Green, the late singer and songwriter, observed, “It’s ",p:97,x:135,y:268,w:425,h:23},
{t:"so hard to see when my eyes are on me.” We have been encour-",p:97,x:105,y:296,w:449,h:23},
{t:"aged to examine ourselves, when we should be looking at Christ. ",p:97,x:105,y:323,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Te message of God’s love is that he comes to reign in us. In ",p:97,x:105,y:351,w:456,h:23},
{t:"other words, as we give our lives to him, he gives his life to us. ",p:97,x:105,y:378,w:455,h:23},
{t:"It truly is a royal transfer, my life exchanged with the King. “For ",p:97,x:105,y:406,w:454,h:23},
{t:"you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When ",p:97,x:105,y:433,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with ",p:97,x:105,y:461,w:455,h:23},
{t:"him in glory” (Colossians 3:3–4).",p:97,x:105,y:488,w:236,h:23},
{t:"Now we can appreciate the diference. It’s not about us hav-",p:97,x:135,y:516,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ing to live for him, but about allowing him full permission to ",p:97,x:105,y:543,w:456,h:23},
{t:"invade our lives and live through us. Tat way it will be “God ",p:97,x:105,y:571,w:456,h:23},
{t:"who works in you to will and to act according to his good pur-",p:97,x:105,y:598,w:449,h:23},
{t:"pose” (Philippians 2:13). Tis purpose may be way outside our ",p:97,x:105,y:626,w:455,h:23},
{t:"own plans. ",p:97,x:105,y:653,w:80,h:23},
{t:"Te future looked bright for Pastor Walcir and his family. ",p:97,x:135,y:681,w:426,h:23},
{t:"Tis Brazilian pastor was being ofered a pastorate in the United ",p:97,x:105,y:708,w:454,h:23},
{t:"States. He and his wife, Ivonilce, and their three daughters could ",p:97,x:105,y:736,w:453,h:23},
{t:"relocate, accept a much higher salary, and care for a Brazilian ",p:97,x:105,y:763,w:456,h:23},
{t:"congregation in the heart of America.",p:97,x:105,y:791,w:264,h:23},
{t:"What God chose for them, however, was diferent: a small ",p:97,x:135,y:818,w:425,h:23},
{t:"congregation located up the Amazon River in a clearing adjacent ",p:97,x:105,y:846,w:453,h:23},
{t:"to the jungle. Te girls had to be placed in a school away from ",p:97,x:105,y:873,w:455,h:23},
{t:"83",p:98,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"EXCHANGE",p:98,x:491,y:64,w:55,h:21},
{t:"their mom and dad. But, oh how God blessed Pastor Walcir ",p:98,x:104,y:116,w:457,h:23},
{t:"and Ivonilce! Teir outreach was used to bring people to Jesus, ",p:98,x:104,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the little church grew, and their daughters became fne young ",p:98,x:104,y:171,w:456,h:23},
{t:"women of God.",p:98,x:104,y:198,w:112,h:23},
{t:"Was it what they would have chosen? Probably not. But life ",p:98,x:134,y:226,w:424,h:23},
{t:"“in Christ,” by defnition, is not designed by us. We take what ",p:98,x:104,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"he gives us. It is no longer about my words spoken for him, but ",p:98,x:104,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"about his words spoken through me. It is no longer about my ",p:98,x:104,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"attempt to serve him, but about his Spirit working through me. ",p:98,x:104,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"It is no longer about my eforts to change my life, but about ",p:98,x:104,y:363,w:456,h:23},
{t:"his love transforming me. “Christ in you, the hope of glory” ",p:98,x:104,y:391,w:457,h:23},
{t:"(Colossians 1:27). Tat is what Pastor Walcir discovered, and he ",p:98,x:104,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and his wife are only two among millions.",p:98,x:104,y:446,w:296,h:23},
{t:"Living with P",p:98,x:157,y:497,w:139,h:30},
{t:"ower fr om Above",p:98,x:311,y:497,w:190,h:30},
{t:"Even though Jesus is God’s Son, he said that he could do ",p:98,x:135,y:538,w:426,h:23},
{t:"nothing by himself, that he could do only what he saw his Father ",p:98,x:105,y:565,w:453,h:23},
{t:"doing (John 5:19; 8:28). He lived in total dependence upon his ",p:98,x:105,y:593,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Father, and that is how he wants us to relate to him.",p:98,x:105,y:620,w:366,h:23},
{t:"Herein lies true liberty and independence. We are set free ",p:98,x:135,y:648,w:426,h:23},
{t:"from our own resources and given the vast potential that comes ",p:98,x:105,y:675,w:454,h:23},
{t:"when we live “in Christ” and he lives in us. In our world today, ",p:98,x:105,y:703,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the Lord Jesus Christ comes to those who exchange their lives ",p:98,x:105,y:730,w:456,h:23},
{t:"for his. Tis is exactly what he provided through his life on earth ",p:98,x:105,y:758,w:454,h:23},
{t:"some two thousand years ago. He pointed to himself as the vine; ",p:98,x:105,y:785,w:454,h:23},
{t:"his disciples were to be nothing more, or less, than branches. He ",p:98,x:105,y:813,w:454,h:23},
{t:"said we could do nothing apart from him, which means we can ",p:98,x:105,y:840,w:455,h:23},
{t:"do everything through his life in us (John 15:5).",p:98,x:105,y:868,w:331,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:99,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"84",p:99,x:105,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"We may wonder, “Where and when does this exchange take ",p:99,x:135,y:116,w:424,h:23},
{t:"place?” Te answer is that sometimes we frst have to exhaust all ",p:99,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"“do-it-yourself” eforts and all other options. Only then are we ",p:99,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"fnally prepared to give in. Most of the time, we would much ",p:99,x:105,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"prefer to do something for ourselves.",p:99,x:105,y:226,w:258,h:23},
{t:"In the 1970s, I had hair halfway down my back and wore ",p:99,x:135,y:253,w:425,h:23},
{t:"clothes that were in fashion at that time. I was at a clergy confer-",p:99,x:105,y:281,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ence when an ex-army major arrived to address us. He arrived ",p:99,x:105,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"with military precision, wearing impeccably tailored clothing. ",p:99,x:105,y:336,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Major Ian Tomas was horrifed that a preacher of the gospel ",p:99,x:105,y:363,w:456,h:23},
{t:"could show up looking the way I did. He did get over it, fortu-",p:99,x:105,y:391,w:449,h:23},
{t:"nately; and we grew to appreciate and respect each other. ",p:99,x:105,y:418,w:405,h:23},
{t:"I was greatly moved by Major Tomas’ story. Having come ",p:99,x:135,y:446,w:425,h:23},
{t:"to faith when he was ffteen, he longed to serve as a medical ",p:99,x:105,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"missionary in Nigeria. Consumed with the excitement of his ",p:99,x:105,y:501,w:457,h:23},
{t:"new faith, he spent every moment seeking to reach people with ",p:99,x:105,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the love of Christ. He even started a youth club in my old haunts ",p:99,x:105,y:556,w:453,h:23},
{t:"amid the slums of London ’s East End. But one night as Ian ",p:99,x:105,y:583,w:457,h:23},
{t:"reviewed the little he had achieved, his heart felt heavy with the ",p:99,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"conviction that, despite all this activity, he was a hopeless failure. ",p:99,x:105,y:638,w:453,h:23},
{t:"God cracked open his heart. Trough Ian ’s bitter tears, it was as ",p:99,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"if the Lord were saying, “Seven years with utmost sincerity you ",p:99,x:105,y:693,w:455,h:23},
{t:"have been trying to live for Me, on My behalf, the life that I have ",p:99,x:105,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"been waiting for seven years to live through you.”1 ",p:99,x:105,y:748,w:353,h:23},
{t:"1.",p:99,x:105,y:846,w:11,h:19},
{t:" Ian Tomas, quoted by V. Raymond Edman, Introduction to Te Saving ",p:99,x:123,y:846,w:426,h:19},
{t:"Life of Christ, by W. Ian Tomas (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988), 11 ",p:99,x:105,y:866,w:415,h:19},
{t:"(italics in original).",p:99,x:105,y:886,w:109,h:19},
{t:"85",p:100,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"EXCHANGE",p:100,x:491,y:64,w:55,h:21},
{t:"When Major Tomas shared this part of his story, I was ",p:100,x:135,y:116,w:427,h:23},
{t:"devastated. My heart was gripped with a similar feeling. We ",p:100,x:105,y:143,w:457,h:23},
{t:"often reach this point when we have fnally run out of rope; we ",p:100,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"have exhausted all our eforts to do God’s work and realize that ",p:100,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"our best eforts produce little or no fruit. Tis is when we are ",p:100,x:105,y:226,w:456,h:23},
{t:"ready to die to our self-efort and to live by God’s grace within ",p:100,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"us. Why, that opens it all up! We fnally recognize that only God ",p:100,x:105,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"himself can fll the God-shaped hole in our lives. ",p:100,x:105,y:308,w:348,h:23},
{t:"Major Tomas himself once wrote these words: “To be in ",p:100,x:135,y:336,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Christ—that is redemption; but for Christ to be in you—that is ",p:100,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"sanctifcation! To be in Christ—that makes you ft for Heaven; ",p:100,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"but for Christ to be in you, that makes you ft for earth! To be ",p:100,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"in Christ—that changes your destination; but for Christ to be ",p:100,x:105,y:446,w:456,h:23},
{t:"in you—that changes your destiny! Te one makes Heaven your ",p:100,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"home—the other makes this world his workshop.”2 ",p:100,x:105,y:501,w:366,h:23},
{t:"Many of us would like the opportunity to live the life of ",p:100,x:134,y:528,w:426,h:23},
{t:"Jesus. Te key is frst sharing in the death of Jesus. Here we con-",p:100,x:105,y:556,w:449,h:23},
{t:"front the main difculty. For most people, the price tag is way ",p:100,x:105,y:583,w:455,h:23},
{t:"too high. We want to do all the living, and we want Jesus to do ",p:100,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"all the dying. What he really wants is for us to know the reality of ",p:100,x:105,y:638,w:453,h:23},
{t:"dying so that he can come and do the living in our lives. Dying ",p:100,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to live—the paradox of the crucifed life. ",p:100,x:105,y:693,w:291,h:23},
{t:"Te remarkable thing is that he changes not just what we do, ",p:100,x:134,y:721,w:423,h:23},
{t:"but what we want to do. Tis is the unique job of his Spirit. And ",p:100,x:105,y:748,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Paul urges believers: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern ",p:100,x:105,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ",p:100,x:105,y:803,w:454,h:23},
{t:"2.",p:100,x:105,y:866,w:11,h:19},
{t:"W. Ian Tomas, Te Saving Life of Christ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, ",p:100,x:126,y:866,w:402,h:19},
{t:"1961), 22 (italics in original).",p:100,x:105,y:886,w:170,h:19},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:101,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"86",p:101,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"Ten you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his ",p:101,x:105,y:116,w:453,h:23},
{t:"good, pleasing and perfect world” (Romans 12:2). Tis is what ",p:101,x:105,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"it means to be a new creature in Christ. Many of us have learned ",p:101,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the Lord Jesus requires a diferent level of discipleship. He does ",p:101,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"not expect that we try harder to work for him. Instead, he longs ",p:101,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to live and work through us. Tat is the real exchange.",p:101,x:105,y:253,w:383,h:23},
{t:"Although it may have questionable authenticity, a ftting ",p:101,x:134,y:281,w:427,h:23},
{t:"story is told about Winston Churchill. With enormous pride, a ",p:101,x:105,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"young man said to the great prime minister, “I am a self-made ",p:101,x:105,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"man.” Churchill replied, “Young man, you have just relieved ",p:101,x:105,y:363,w:457,h:23},
{t:"God of an awesome responsibility.” Te miracle is that our God ",p:101,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"waits to do his work in us. We must never try to do his job for ",p:101,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"him. ",p:101,x:105,y:446,w:37,h:23},
{t:"Prayer ",p:101,x:105,y:530,w:75,h:38},
{t:" Not my desires, but yours, Lord. Not my way, ",p:101,x:194,y:538,w:366,h:28},
{t:"but yours, Lord. Not my abilities and strengths, but yours, Lord. ",p:101,x:105,y:568,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Speak freely to me throughout each day. Tune my heart to yours. ",p:101,x:105,y:596,w:453,h:23},
{t:"I freely consecrate my whole being to you. But I ask one thing: ",p:101,x:105,y:623,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Would you exchange my life for yours? Tank you, Lord. In ",p:101,x:105,y:651,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Jesus, Amen. ",p:101,x:105,y:678,w:95,h:23},
{t:"87",p:102,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"CHAPTER EIGHT",p:102,x:105,y:240,w:62,h:14},
{t:"Dying",p:102,x:105,y:292,w:102,h:69},
{t:"LIVING ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE CROSS",p:102,x:172,y:380,w:330,h:34},
{t:"The silhouette of three crosses stood starkly against ",p:102,x:165,y:489,w:397,h:69},
{t:"the sky. Two criminals hung on either side of Jesus. ",p:102,x:189,y:529,w:371,h:23},
{t:"His hands and feet had been securely nailed to the wood, and he ",p:102,x:104,y:556,w:454,h:23},
{t:"had been left to die. Te pain was excruciating as he shifted his ",p:102,x:104,y:584,w:455,h:23},
{t:"weight from his hands to his feet and then back again. One thing ",p:102,x:104,y:611,w:453,h:23},
{t:"was obvious: despite the mocking suggestions from the crowd, ",p:102,x:104,y:639,w:455,h:23},
{t:"no one was going to take him down. Asphyxiation lurked ahead, ",p:102,x:104,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and then death would come (although in Jesus’ case it didn ’t ",p:102,x:104,y:694,w:457,h:23},
{t:"take as long for him to die as with typical asphyxiation, since he ",p:102,x:104,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"died—literally—from a broken heart).",p:102,x:104,y:749,w:271,h:23},
{t:"Tere is no predicament less safe on earth than being nailed ",p:102,x:134,y:776,w:424,h:23},
{t:"to a cross.",p:102,x:104,y:804,w:69,h:23},
{t:"Te earliest Christians were delightfully extreme. Many ",p:102,x:134,y:831,w:429,h:23},
{t:"of them sold what they possessed and put their lives at risk to ",p:102,x:104,y:859,w:455,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:103,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"88",p:103,x:105,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"spread the message of Jesus. Some of them had seen the empty ",p:103,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"tomb with their own eyes. All of them had witnessed the power ",p:103,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of changed lives. Tey knew their crucifed Messiah was alive, ",p:103,x:105,y:171,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and they had received his Holy Spirit.",p:103,x:105,y:198,w:266,h:23},
{t:"A. W. Tozer depicted this with wonderful clarity: “Te ",p:103,x:134,y:226,w:429,h:23},
{t:"church began in power, moved in power and moved just as long ",p:103,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"as the Lord gave power. When she no longer had power, she dug ",p:103,x:105,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"in for safety and sought to conserve her gains.”1 Tese men and ",p:103,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"women were comfortable out on a limb; in the power of the ",p:103,x:104,y:336,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Lord, they were turning their world upside down (Acts 17:6).",p:103,x:104,y:363,w:434,h:23},
{t:"Doesn ’t it seem strange that so many Christians cling to ",p:103,x:134,y:391,w:427,h:23},
{t:"safety when risky living should be the order of the day? Why ",p:103,x:104,y:418,w:456,h:23},
{t:"are many of us more easily identifed with respectability than ",p:103,x:104,y:446,w:456,h:23},
{t:"with healthy extremism? Te phrase “What would Jesus do?” is ",p:103,x:104,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"often used to caution against improper behavior rather than to ",p:103,x:104,y:501,w:455,h:23},
{t:"encourage living on the edge, as Jesus did. While Jesus’ criticisms ",p:103,x:104,y:528,w:453,h:23},
{t:"posed a threat to respectable religious people, he welcomed those ",p:103,x:104,y:556,w:453,h:23},
{t:"who were struggling, imperfect, and nonreligious.",p:103,x:104,y:583,w:351,h:23},
{t:"Jesus drank from the cup of a Samaritan woman, dined with ",p:103,x:134,y:611,w:423,h:23},
{t:"tax collectors, and touched the lepers, the blind, and the bleed-",p:103,x:104,y:638,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ing. He spent his time with the people whom “religious” people ",p:103,x:104,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"despised. What ultimately landed Jesus on a cross may have been ",p:103,x:104,y:693,w:453,h:23},
{t:"his radical commitment to the idea that ordinary, but broken, ",p:103,x:104,y:721,w:456,h:23},
{t:"people could become world-transforming men and women of ",p:103,x:104,y:748,w:456,h:23},
{t:"God. What madness. What glory! ",p:103,x:104,y:776,w:243,h:23},
{t:"1.",p:103,x:105,y:866,w:11,h:19},
{t:" A. W. Tozer, Paths to Power (London: Oliphants, 1964), page number ",p:103,x:123,y:866,w:408,h:19},
{t:"unknown.",p:103,x:104,y:886,w:59,h:19},
{t:"89",p:104,x:541,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"DYING",p:104,x:518,y:64,w:32,h:21},
{t:"Jesus’ critics thought he rocked the boat at a time when rela-",p:104,x:135,y:116,w:419,h:23},
{t:"tions with Rome were unstable. He ate with the wrong people ",p:104,x:105,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and visited the wrong places, while respect for religious leader-",p:104,x:105,y:171,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ship was being questioned by Jewish people and by the Roman ",p:104,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"state. He opened the doors of his kingdom to people of any ",p:104,x:105,y:226,w:457,h:23},
{t:"ethnic or religious background—just when the Jews were trying ",p:104,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to recapture their religious exclusivity. ",p:104,x:105,y:281,w:271,h:23},
{t:"Instead of making things better, Jesus appeared to make ",p:104,x:135,y:308,w:427,h:23},
{t:"things worse. He could make nomads out of those who would ",p:104,x:105,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"otherwise be settled citizens and enemies out of those who ",p:104,x:105,y:363,w:458,h:23},
{t:"would otherwise be friends. His emphasis on discipleship created ",p:104,x:105,y:391,w:453,h:23},
{t:"tension and disruption in families. He pointed people to rebel ",p:104,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"against their spiritual leaders rather than against the occupying ",p:104,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"forces of Rome. He claimed to be the only Son of God while ",p:104,x:105,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"under the state rule of an emperor who claimed to be the son ",p:104,x:105,y:501,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of a god. Jesus was introducing a new kingdom, one in which ",p:104,x:105,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"God reigns!",p:104,x:105,y:556,w:82,h:23},
{t:"Jesus’ passion for changed lives reaches out to all people, ",p:104,x:135,y:583,w:427,h:23},
{t:"calling any who will receive his love and surrender to him. When ",p:104,x:104,y:611,w:453,h:23},
{t:"we turn in repentance to God, we enter into what may well be ",p:104,x:104,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"a turbulent journey. He ofers a roller-coaster ride rather than a ",p:104,x:104,y:666,w:455,h:23},
{t:"soft and sedentary passage through life. All around the world, ",p:104,x:104,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"the people of God are waking up to the message that serving ",p:104,x:104,y:721,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Christ is no soft or easy option. Tis thread runs throughout ",p:104,x:104,y:748,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Paul’s writings to the early church. It is dangerous to live for ",p:104,x:104,y:776,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Christ here on earth. Te safety of heaven comes later!",p:104,x:104,y:803,w:382,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:105,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"90",p:105,x:105,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"A Great Challenge",p:105,x:226,y:115,w:191,h:30},
{t:"It was Christmas Eve in London. For twelve years we had ",p:105,x:135,y:156,w:426,h:23},
{t:"lived in our three-story Victorian house, happily bringing up our ",p:105,x:105,y:183,w:453,h:23},
{t:"family in this inner-city home. Te house was festooned with ",p:105,x:105,y:211,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Christmas decorations, presents were still being surreptitiously ",p:105,x:105,y:238,w:456,h:23},
{t:"wrapped in diferent bedrooms, and everyone was busily prepar-",p:105,x:105,y:266,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ing for the big day.",p:105,x:105,y:293,w:133,h:23},
{t:"I don ’t remember where I had gone. Perhaps I went out with ",p:105,x:135,y:321,w:423,h:23},
{t:"one of the children to make a last-minute purchase. Or maybe ",p:105,x:105,y:348,w:455,h:23},
{t:"I just went for a walk with the dog (a liver-spotted Dalmatian ",p:105,x:105,y:376,w:456,h:23},
{t:"named Tozer). But when I walked in the door I saw that my ",p:105,x:105,y:403,w:456,h:23},
{t:"wife, Ruth, was as white as a sheet. It was almost as if she had ",p:105,x:105,y:431,w:455,h:23},
{t:"seen a ghost. ",p:105,x:105,y:458,w:93,h:23},
{t:"Gradually the story unfolded. A telephone call from ",p:105,x:135,y:486,w:432,h:23},
{t:"America had come straight out of the blue. Ruth and I had been ",p:105,x:105,y:513,w:454,h:23},
{t:"invited to go for an interview in the States, with the possibility ",p:105,x:105,y:541,w:455,h:23},
{t:"of becoming the next president of World Relief, a sixty-year-old ",p:105,x:105,y:568,w:454,h:23},
{t:"international, church-based relief and development agency. Te ",p:105,x:105,y:596,w:454,h:23},
{t:"look on Ruth ’s face told me everything. Tis was something she ",p:105,x:105,y:623,w:454,h:23},
{t:"thought could well become a reality. And it did.",p:105,x:105,y:651,w:338,h:23},
{t:"For many this would sound like the opportunity of a ",p:105,x:135,y:678,w:429,h:23},
{t:"lifetime. For us, it was a Calvary we had to face. Please don ’t ",p:105,x:105,y:706,w:456,h:23},
{t:"misunderstand me. If you have to leave your relatives, friends, ",p:105,x:105,y:733,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and homeland behind in order to relocate halfway around the ",p:105,x:105,y:761,w:456,h:23},
{t:"world, then the United States can be a wonderful place to be ",p:105,x:105,y:788,w:456,h:23},
{t:"invited to live. Te fact that we are still in America well over ten ",p:105,x:105,y:816,w:454,h:23},
{t:"years later says a lot.",p:105,x:105,y:843,w:142,h:23},
{t:"91",p:106,x:542,y:935,w:11,h:19},
{t:"DYING",p:106,x:518,y:64,w:32,h:21},
{t:"At the time, however, things seemed very diferent. We have ",p:106,x:135,y:116,w:424,h:23},
{t:"four children. Our two daughters were not a problem. Vicky was ",p:106,x:105,y:143,w:453,h:23},
{t:"leaving a university and heading of to serve the Lord overseas; ",p:106,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and Suzy, at thirteen, was young enough for her education to be ",p:106,x:105,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"interrupted by moving to the United States.",p:106,x:105,y:226,w:309,h:23},
{t:"Now the boys—they were another story. Both were at a ",p:106,x:135,y:253,w:427,h:23},
{t:"point in their education that could not be disrupted. If we left ",p:106,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"for the States, they would have to stay behind. But then, when ",p:106,x:105,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"their education would allow them to leave the U.K., they would ",p:106,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"be too old for family immigration. Facing a permanent family ",p:106,x:105,y:363,w:456,h:23},
{t:"division into separate continents was bad enough, but soon our ",p:106,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"cross took on larger proportions. Gavin was our happy-go-lucky ",p:106,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"seventeen-year-old. His verdict was simple. “How can a God of ",p:106,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"love break up a family like ours?” His older brother, Kris, was ",p:106,x:105,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"more blunt. “If that is the kind of God that we love and serve, ",p:106,x:105,y:501,w:455,h:23},
{t:"then he can shove it!”",p:106,x:105,y:528,w:152,h:23},
{t:"We prayed, tested our decision, received counsel from ",p:106,x:135,y:556,w:430,h:23},
{t:"friends . . . and ultimately we reluctantly obeyed the call God ",p:106,x:105,y:583,w:456,h:23},
{t:"placed upon our lives. Both Ruth and I knew the bitter truth: ",p:106,x:105,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"our two much-loved lads would leave the church and Jesus the ",p:106,x:105,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"day we left the U.K.",p:106,x:105,y:666,w:142,h:23},
{t:"Te next months were awful. We will always be grateful to ",p:106,x:135,y:693,w:425,h:23},
{t:"those who tried to understand and share a little of our pain. ",p:106,x:105,y:721,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Ruth wept a lake of tears; and, frankly, I wondered if the Lord ",p:106,x:105,y:748,w:455,h:23},
{t:"really did know what he was doing. If this was to be my cross, ",p:106,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"then I couldn ’t wait to get to the other side.",p:106,x:105,y:803,w:307,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:107,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"92",p:107,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"Beyond the C",p:107,x:231,y:115,w:142,h:30},
{t:"ross",p:107,x:384,y:115,w:41,h:30},
{t:"Each of us is saddened by the cross when we sense what Jesus ",p:107,x:135,y:156,w:423,h:23},
{t:"must have sufered for us. At the same time, we recognize that ",p:107,x:105,y:183,w:455,h:23},
{t:"his death brings light to our darkness and life to our death. By ",p:107,x:105,y:211,w:455,h:23},
{t:"way of the cross, God ofers us the miracle of divine forgiveness ",p:107,x:105,y:238,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and a divine new beginning in all its fullness. Trough Christ’s ",p:107,x:105,y:266,w:455,h:23},
{t:"death on the cross, we receive life that cannot be vanquished or ",p:107,x:105,y:293,w:454,h:23},
{t:"defeated, life like no other, and life that brings his power. All of ",p:107,x:105,y:321,w:454,h:23},
{t:"this, however, can come only via a cross.",p:107,x:105,y:348,w:283,h:23},
{t:"Te tragic reality is that we are “damaged goods.” But we can ",p:107,x:135,y:376,w:423,h:23},
{t:"be restored through divine power. It is only when we admit that ",p:107,x:105,y:403,w:454,h:23},
{t:"we cannot change ourselves that he provides his supernatural ",p:107,x:105,y:431,w:457,h:23},
{t:"transformation. It is only when we confess our failure to live ",p:107,x:105,y:458,w:457,h:23},
{t:"the way he intended that he comes to change our hearts and ",p:107,x:105,y:486,w:456,h:23},
{t:"lives. Tis change begins at the cross. Divine change requires ",p:107,x:105,y:513,w:457,h:23},
{t:"that we frst commit to trust God, whom we are coming to know ",p:107,x:105,y:541,w:453,h:23},
{t:"and love. Tis trust demands faith. Faith results in action, action ",p:107,x:105,y:568,w:454,h:23},
{t:"requires obedience, and obedience comes from our dependence ",p:107,x:105,y:596,w:455,h:23},
{t:"on him.",p:107,x:105,y:623,w:56,h:23},
{t:"Tis all sounds great in theory. But it can come across difer-",p:107,x:135,y:651,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ently when we are enduring a crash course in practice. Te living ",p:107,x:105,y:678,w:453,h:23},
{t:"God sets before us two options: either we function apart from ",p:107,x:105,y:706,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the cross, living by our own energies and abilities but unable to ",p:107,x:105,y:733,w:454,h:23},
{t:"move forward, or we live on the other side of the cross. Here we ",p:107,x:105,y:761,w:454,h:23},
{t:"live regenerated by Christ and aware of God’s voice, power, and ",p:107,x:105,y:788,w:454,h:23},
{t:"transforming love. We then live from his resources—moving ",p:107,x:105,y:816,w:457,h:23},
{t:"forward and not looking back. ",p:107,x:105,y:843,w:217,h:23},
{t:"93",p:108,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"DYING",p:108,x:518,y:64,w:32,h:21},
{t:"Again, this may sound fne. But the primal scream still ",p:108,x:135,y:116,w:428,h:23},
{t:"remains: “It is not supposed to cost me my family!”",p:108,x:105,y:143,w:362,h:23},
{t:"Moses addressed this issue with the people of Israel in vivid ",p:108,x:135,y:171,w:424,h:23},
{t:"and unforgettable words: “Tis day I call heaven and earth as ",p:108,x:105,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, ",p:108,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your chil-",p:108,x:105,y:253,w:449,h:23},
{t:"dren may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen ",p:108,x:105,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life” ",p:108,x:105,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"(Deuteronomy 30:19–20). Tere you have it in a nutshell. Te ",p:108,x:105,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"children are involved too. Tat is what my wife and I discovered ",p:108,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"for ourselves.",p:108,x:105,y:391,w:92,h:23},
{t:"Nine months after we moved I preached at a festival in the ",p:108,x:135,y:418,w:425,h:23},
{t:"U.K. At the back of the large tent, which held several thousand ",p:108,x:105,y:446,w:454,h:23},
{t:"people, were the boys. Teir paths back to Jesus were as diferent ",p:108,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"as their personalities, but they both made it back. Today all four ",p:108,x:105,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of our children serve Jesus in very diferent ministries. We enjoy ",p:108,x:105,y:528,w:454,h:23},
{t:"a unity forged via the cross. Gavin says, “I was living of your ",p:108,x:105,y:556,w:456,h:23},
{t:"faith; I just needed the space to discover my own.” Te memories ",p:108,x:105,y:583,w:453,h:23},
{t:"often come fooding back, bringing tears to my eyes, when I ",p:108,x:105,y:611,w:457,h:23},
{t:"listen to him preach. Sometimes Gavin will say, “I never knew ",p:108,x:105,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"what it really meant to love Jesus until my dad left me for him.” ",p:108,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Tat’s how I know that he understands. ",p:108,x:105,y:693,w:283,h:23},
{t:"Dreams and ambitions, friends, and yes, even families ",p:108,x:135,y:721,w:430,h:23},
{t:"have to be surrendered at the cross, but only when Father God ",p:108,x:105,y:748,w:455,h:23},
{t:"requires them in order to work out his purposes. For then life ",p:108,x:105,y:776,w:456,h:23},
{t:"will be radiantly diferent; it will be transformed on the far side ",p:108,x:105,y:803,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of the cross. ",p:108,x:105,y:831,w:88,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:109,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"94",p:109,x:105,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"Beginning A",p:109,x:235,y:115,w:127,h:30},
{t:"gain",p:109,x:376,y:115,w:43,h:30},
{t:"It is a fatal mistake to see the cross as the end of the road. ",p:109,x:135,y:156,w:425,h:23},
{t:"While it may be the end of one road, it is the beginning of another. ",p:109,x:105,y:183,w:452,h:23},
{t:"We lay down our lives for Jesus to do with them whatever he ",p:109,x:105,y:211,w:456,h:23},
{t:"will, but then he gives us the excitement of a fresh beginning.",p:109,x:105,y:238,w:433,h:23},
{t:"It is at the cross, which in Roman times stood as a symbol of ",p:109,x:135,y:266,w:423,h:23},
{t:"darkness and defeat, that we can see the hallmarks of hope and ",p:109,x:105,y:293,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the promise of new life. Jesus afrmed this in saying, “I tell you ",p:109,x:105,y:321,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me ",p:109,x:105,y:348,w:454,h:23},
{t:"has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over ",p:109,x:105,y:376,w:455,h:23},
{t:"from death to life” (John 5:24). When the darkness of Good ",p:109,x:105,y:403,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Friday descended upon Jesus, he died. In that one event God ",p:109,x:105,y:431,w:456,h:23},
{t:"took upon himself the penalty and the punishment that was de-",p:109,x:105,y:458,w:449,h:23},
{t:"servedly ours. My condemnation—literally, God’s right to judge ",p:109,x:105,y:486,w:454,h:23},
{t:"me—was swept away in the death of his Son (Romans 8:1)!",p:109,x:105,y:513,w:420,h:23},
{t:"So what is the result? I begin to live on the far side of the ",p:109,x:135,y:541,w:425,h:23},
{t:"cross. I know I am forgiven and God loves me. I am headed for ",p:109,x:105,y:568,w:454,h:23},
{t:"heaven, and I can no longer be found “guilty.” My sentence has ",p:109,x:105,y:596,w:454,h:23},
{t:"been passed, yet I am acquitted because someone took my place! ",p:109,x:105,y:623,w:454,h:23},
{t:"No wonder I cannot see the cross as a dark event, for it is where ",p:109,x:105,y:651,w:454,h:23},
{t:"my light begins to dawn. Here Jesus died and made room for ",p:109,x:105,y:678,w:456,h:23},
{t:"me to die also so that a divine makeover of my life could begin. ",p:109,x:105,y:706,w:454,h:23},
{t:"What seemed to be terribly bad news can now be received as ",p:109,x:105,y:733,w:456,h:23},
{t:"good news. Jesus’ death on the cross achieves two things for us: ",p:109,x:105,y:761,w:454,h:23},
{t:"it teaches us how to die, and it teaches us how to live.",p:109,x:105,y:788,w:377,h:23},
{t:"It didn ’t take long for the truth to come out. Two days after ",p:109,x:135,y:816,w:424,h:23},
{t:"the crucifxion two sorrowful disciples were walking the seven ",p:109,x:105,y:843,w:456,h:23},
{t:"or so miles from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus when a ",p:109,x:105,y:871,w:456,h:23},
{t:"95",p:110,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"DYING",p:110,x:518,y:64,w:32,h:21},
{t:"comforting stranger joined them. Tey later recalled how their ",p:110,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"hearts had been “burning within us” as this stranger walked and ",p:110,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"talked with them (Luke 24:32). When they realized the stranger ",p:110,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"was Jesus, they rushed back in the early darkness along the rocky ",p:110,x:105,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and dangerous road to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples they ",p:110,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"had personally talked with Jesus (Luke 24:33–35). On the far ",p:110,x:105,y:253,w:456,h:23},
{t:"side of the cross the good news breaks! Our hearts burn with ",p:110,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"excitement, and it becomes difcult to contain the wonderful ",p:110,x:105,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"announcement of what has happened.",p:110,x:105,y:336,w:269,h:23},
{t:"Jesus died on a hill outside Jerusalem known as Calvary. ",p:110,x:135,y:363,w:427,h:23},
{t:"About seven weeks later, in an upper room inside the city, the ",p:110,x:105,y:391,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Holy Spirit came down on 120 followers of Jesus. Te great-",p:110,x:105,y:418,w:449,h:23},
{t:"est danger facing the church today is to stop halfway between ",p:110,x:105,y:446,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Calvary and Pentecost. I say this because of our failure to rec-",p:110,x:105,y:473,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ognize the triumph of the cross and its inevitable consequences ",p:110,x:105,y:501,w:455,h:23},
{t:"for all who trust Christ. Once we have uncovered the triumph ",p:110,x:105,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"of Christ’s victory on the cross, we will allow him to set that ",p:110,x:105,y:556,w:456,h:23},
{t:"triumph on fre in our lives.",p:110,x:105,y:583,w:196,h:23},
{t:"Tis is life as Jesus intended for us—on the far side of the ",p:110,x:135,y:611,w:425,h:23},
{t:"cross.",p:110,x:105,y:638,w:38,h:23},
{t:"Starting a N ew Story",p:110,x:212,y:689,w:234,h:30},
{t:"Te story with which I began this chapter is one that I once ",p:110,x:135,y:730,w:424,h:23},
{t:"struggled to tell. Te conclusion was nothing short of an act of ",p:110,x:105,y:758,w:455,h:23},
{t:"God, but our children ’s lives were not the only ones that changed ",p:110,x:105,y:785,w:453,h:23},
{t:"on the far side of the cross. Ruth and I have served at our church ",p:110,x:105,y:813,w:454,h:23},
{t:"now for a few years, and we have loved every minute of it. ",p:110,x:105,y:840,w:458,h:23},
{t:"Previous roles with national and international organizations ",p:110,x:105,y:868,w:459,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:111,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"96",p:111,x:105,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"have contributed their own joy and pain to our lives. As presi-",p:111,x:105,y:116,w:449,h:23},
{t:"dent of World Relief, I literally traveled the globe, but we always ",p:111,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"believed the Lord had a chapter with a local church lined up for ",p:111,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"us in the future. And now we are living it!",p:111,x:105,y:198,w:295,h:23},
{t:"Being in a New England community has provided its chal-",p:111,x:134,y:226,w:419,h:23},
{t:"lenges. Tis is not like the southern states or California, where ",p:111,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"there is an abundance of large churches. Here the percentage ",p:111,x:105,y:281,w:457,h:23},
{t:"of evangelical Christians is in single fgures, and faith has to ",p:111,x:105,y:308,w:457,h:23},
{t:"grow in fairly infertile soil. It took me months to realize why ",p:111,x:105,y:336,w:456,h:23},
{t:"God placed an Englishman in New England: this region is more ",p:111,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"secular—and therefore more like the old England, where Ruth ",p:111,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and I had spent most of our lives—than anywhere else we have ",p:111,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"encountered in the United States.",p:111,x:105,y:446,w:237,h:23},
{t:"No longer do I preach in a diferent megachurch each week, ",p:111,x:134,y:473,w:424,h:23},
{t:"or concentrate on the needs of the worldwide church and its ",p:111,x:105,y:501,w:457,h:23},
{t:"ministry to the poor, or generate interest and support for a ",p:111,x:105,y:528,w:458,h:23},
{t:"church agency—as much as I enjoyed these things. What I do ",p:111,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"now is quite refreshing. Te opportunity to develop relation-",p:111,x:105,y:583,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ships, cultivate friendships, and regularly serve and minister to ",p:111,x:105,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the same people is exciting. Tirty-fve years ago I trained to do ",p:111,x:105,y:638,w:454,h:23},
{t:"this, and now it is happening!",p:111,x:105,y:666,w:209,h:23},
{t:"I serve as the team leader of multiple staf pastors and direc-",p:111,x:134,y:693,w:419,h:23},
{t:"tors, with ultimate governance and direction provided by ffteen ",p:111,x:105,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"lay elders, all of whom work quite hard. Our relationships are ",p:111,x:105,y:748,w:456,h:23},
{t:"close, so I was surprised one day when the chairman of the elders ",p:111,x:105,y:776,w:453,h:23},
{t:"assumed a somber and distressed expression during an elder ",p:111,x:105,y:803,w:458,h:23},
{t:"board meeting. He soberly pointed out that, after an initial surge ",p:111,x:105,y:831,w:453,h:23},
{t:"in numbers in the frst year after Ruth and I arrived, some folks ",p:111,x:105,y:858,w:454,h:23},
{t:"97",p:112,x:541,y:935,w:12,h:19},
{t:"DYING",p:112,x:518,y:64,w:32,h:21},
{t:"were leaving the church, and not all of them because they were ",p:112,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"moving out of the area. He pointed out that some people in the ",p:112,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"church were uncomfortable with the direction of the preaching, ",p:112,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"particularly the emphasis on the crucifed life. Ten, on behalf ",p:112,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"of the elders, he emphasized their commitment to the direction ",p:112,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"in which we were heading. And he presented me with a book of ",p:112,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"sermons on the cross and the life that fows from it, just in case ",p:112,x:105,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"I might be in need of additional material!",p:112,x:105,y:308,w:292,h:23},
{t:"Many are beginning to recognize the dangers inherent in ",p:112,x:135,y:336,w:427,h:23},
{t:"a cultural Christianity. By this I mean the kind of Christianity ",p:112,x:105,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"in which God is essentially given lip service, and the notion of ",p:112,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"sacrifce and loss is rarely allowed to disturb our comfort zones ",p:112,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"or tranquil horizons. Te reality of the Christian life is very ",p:112,x:105,y:446,w:457,h:23},
{t:"diferent. Few may face the instruction to leave family behind ",p:112,x:105,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"as they change jobs or relocate. But such things are possible, ",p:112,x:105,y:501,w:457,h:23},
{t:"especially when you begin to live on the far side of the cross.",p:112,x:105,y:528,w:425,h:23},
{t:"I struggle with the term “full-time service.” Is that not what ",p:112,x:135,y:556,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Jesus has called each one of us to? We may be nurses, teachers, ",p:112,x:105,y:583,w:455,h:23},
{t:"businesspeople, or lawyers rather than preachers. But each of us ",p:112,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"is called to live (full-time) the life of the one who died for us. ",p:112,x:105,y:638,w:456,h:23},
{t:"To do that we must recognize that every conclusion requires a ",p:112,x:105,y:666,w:455,h:23},
{t:"beginning. For those who would live on the far side of the cross, ",p:112,x:105,y:693,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the cross is where we must begin. From death can come life; but ",p:112,x:105,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"dying needs to precede living. Out of our struggle to become ",p:112,x:105,y:748,w:456,h:23},
{t:"obedient to the will of God emerges our surrender to him and ",p:112,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"then our dependence upon his life in us. ",p:112,x:105,y:803,w:289,h:23},
{t:"Te dying comes frst. Ten comes life, on the far side. Tat ",p:112,x:135,y:831,w:424,h:23},
{t:"is the paradox of the crucifed life. ",p:112,x:105,y:858,w:245,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:113,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"98",p:113,x:105,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"Prayer ",p:113,x:105,y:123,w:75,h:38},
{t:" Dear Lord Jesus, if living for you means dying ",p:113,x:194,y:131,w:366,h:28},
{t:"with you frst, then please help me to learn what it means to ",p:113,x:104,y:161,w:456,h:23},
{t:"be crucifed to myself so that I may really live for you. Reveal ",p:113,x:104,y:189,w:456,h:23},
{t:"to me the areas of my life and inner spirit that must change to ",p:113,x:104,y:216,w:455,h:23},
{t:"make this possible. Tank you that after the crucifxion comes ",p:113,x:104,y:244,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the resurrection. Please help me to live on the far side of the ",p:113,x:104,y:271,w:456,h:23},
{t:"cross. Amen.",p:113,x:104,y:299,w:90,h:23},
{t:"99",p:114,x:541,y:935,w:13,h:19},
{t:"CHAPTER NINE",p:114,x:105,y:240,w:58,h:14},
{t:"Brok en",p:114,x:105,y:292,w:147,h:69},
{t:"WARNING",p:114,x:172,y:380,w:79,h:34},
{t:"–",p:114,x:172,y:412,w:11,h:34},
{t:"BREA KAGES MUST BE REPLACED",p:114,x:190,y:412,w:284,h:34},
{t:"Most of us possess things to which we are attached. A ",p:114,x:165,y:520,w:393,h:69},
{t:"baby may cherish a teddy bear. A preteen may have ",p:114,x:201,y:560,w:356,h:23},
{t:"a special jacket. A young adult might be drawn to a car. And me, ",p:114,x:105,y:588,w:454,h:23},
{t:"well, I have to confess that I do love my grandfather clock! ",p:114,x:105,y:615,w:416,h:23},
{t:"Perhaps I shouldn ’t love it. After all, it’s only a material pos-",p:114,x:134,y:643,w:419,h:23},
{t:"session. And I have always been taught not to love something ",p:114,x:105,y:670,w:456,h:23},
{t:"that is incapable of loving me in return. I love my wife, of course; ",p:114,x:105,y:698,w:453,h:23},
{t:"and because Ruth bought this grandfather clock for me it has ",p:114,x:105,y:725,w:456,h:23},
{t:"deep sentimental value. Although it’s an American clock, it plays ",p:114,x:105,y:753,w:453,h:23},
{t:"the chimes of Big Ben, a sound that I used to hear every day ",p:114,x:105,y:780,w:456,h:23},
{t:"from my ofce in London. Since living in America, this clock ",p:114,x:105,y:808,w:456,h:23},
{t:"had become a nostalgic substitute. Tat is, until we moved from ",p:114,x:105,y:835,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Baltimore, Maryland, to Connecticut.",p:114,x:105,y:863,w:269,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:115,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"100",p:115,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"Our new home was colonial, quaint, and had ceilings that ",p:115,x:135,y:116,w:425,h:23},
{t:"were seven feet and three inches high. Our clock was walnut, ",p:115,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"robust, and seven feet and six inches high. No one foresaw the ",p:115,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"problem until we tried to position the clock in the house and ",p:115,x:105,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"it just would not ft. Various helpful suggestions were made. ",p:115,x:105,y:226,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Some thought the top of the clock could be cut of, and others ",p:115,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"suggested making a hole in the ceiling. But no one came up with ",p:115,x:105,y:281,w:453,h:23},
{t:"a viable solution, so the clock was returned to the garage until ",p:115,x:105,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"further consideration.",p:115,x:105,y:336,w:153,h:23},
{t:"Kent Carpenter is the kind of gifted man every church ap-",p:115,x:135,y:363,w:419,h:23},
{t:"preciates. His skills, especially in carpentry, have been invaluable ",p:115,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to Habitat for Humanity as well as to our congregation. We frst ",p:115,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"met on the afternoon of the clock fasco. I had been assured that ",p:115,x:105,y:446,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Kent and others would make moving into our house seem easy. ",p:115,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Te others did, but when it came to fxing door handles, putting ",p:115,x:105,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"up curtain rods, and the like, Kent had gone missing. Tis was ",p:115,x:105,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"strange, since Kent had been told that the new pastor was useless ",p:115,x:105,y:556,w:453,h:23},
{t:"at anything practical, which is why Kent’s wife had been swift to ",p:115,x:105,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"ofer his services. But Kent was nowhere to be seen.",p:115,x:105,y:611,w:363,h:23},
{t:"Four hours later Kent reemerged to tell his story. Knowing ",p:115,x:135,y:638,w:425,h:23},
{t:"about the clock problem, he had quietly taken, without permis-",p:115,x:105,y:666,w:449,h:23},
{t:"sion, fve inches from the top of the wooden base of the clock ",p:115,x:105,y:693,w:455,h:23},
{t:"(which he then added to his stock of kindling). It is little wonder ",p:115,x:105,y:721,w:453,h:23},
{t:"that Kent, now a dear friend, is occasionally but lovingly referred ",p:115,x:105,y:748,w:453,h:23},
{t:"to as “the executioner”!",p:115,x:105,y:776,w:162,h:23},
{t:"Now the clock fts in the house, and the chimes of Big Ben ",p:115,x:135,y:803,w:424,h:23},
{t:"ring out to mark each quarter hour. No one can identify, without ",p:115,x:105,y:831,w:453,h:23},
{t:"help, where Kent’s skilled hands made the incision. Without the ",p:115,x:105,y:858,w:454,h:23},
{t:"101",p:116,x:537,y:935,w:16,h:19},
{t:"BROKEN",p:116,x:506,y:64,w:46,h:21},
{t:"removal of those fve inches, the clock would still stand mute ",p:116,x:105,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and useless in the garage. Today the clock receives great compli-",p:116,x:105,y:143,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ments, but only because Kent did a great job. His actions gave it ",p:116,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"“life” and a renewed purpose. ",p:116,x:105,y:198,w:212,h:23},
{t:"Tis is exactly what the Lord Jesus wants to do for you and ",p:116,x:135,y:226,w:424,h:23},
{t:"for me. Each of us needs to be trimmed down to size by his ",p:116,x:105,y:253,w:456,h:23},
{t:"loving hand, broken from what is surplus to his requirements, ",p:116,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and made ready to fulfll the destiny he has prepared for us. All ",p:116,x:105,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"of this is impossible until we allow God to perform the necessary ",p:116,x:105,y:336,w:453,h:23},
{t:"surgery to adapt us for his purposes and to prepare us for his ",p:116,x:105,y:363,w:456,h:23},
{t:"service.",p:116,x:105,y:391,w:51,h:23},
{t:"Giving U p on G od",p:116,x:225,y:442,w:207,h:30},
{t:"Troughout history, God has ofered his love to those he ",p:116,x:135,y:483,w:426,h:23},
{t:"would uniquely mold to be his people. Ten comes the problem: ",p:116,x:105,y:510,w:453,h:23},
{t:"we are reluctant to be exposed to God’s discipline, let alone ",p:116,x:105,y:538,w:457,h:23},
{t:"to his carpentry tools! We recognize that the clock should be ",p:116,x:105,y:565,w:456,h:23},
{t:"chiming in the house rather than standing silently in the ga-",p:116,x:105,y:593,w:449,h:23},
{t:"rage. Nevertheless, contemplating the pain and transformation ",p:116,x:105,y:620,w:455,h:23},
{t:"involved in being cut down to size creates resistance within us.",p:116,x:105,y:648,w:440,h:23},
{t:"Moses experienced this with the people of Israel. Teir God ",p:116,x:135,y:675,w:424,h:23},
{t:"had brought them out of Egypt, and their rescue was spectacu-",p:116,x:105,y:703,w:449,h:23},
{t:"lar. As the waters of the Red Sea crashed around the heads of ",p:116,x:105,y:730,w:456,h:23},
{t:"the pursuing Egyptian army, the Israelites could have simply ",p:116,x:105,y:758,w:457,h:23},
{t:"released their destiny into the hands of the God who had deliv-",p:116,x:105,y:785,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ered them. No way! What short memories they had. Soon their ",p:116,x:105,y:813,w:454,h:23},
{t:"reluctance, fear, and disobedience turned an eleven-day sprint to ",p:116,x:105,y:840,w:453,h:23},
{t:"the Promised Land into a forty-year marathon in the wilderness.",p:116,x:105,y:868,w:450,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:117,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"102",p:117,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"Still, their God provided them with water from a rock and ",p:117,x:135,y:116,w:425,h:23},
{t:"food from heaven, and he kept their shoes and clothing from ",p:117,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"wearing out. Even when God’s people denied his love and ",p:117,x:105,y:171,w:459,h:23},
{t:"doubted his word, he did not give up on them. Tey, however, ",p:117,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"continued to give up on him.",p:117,x:105,y:226,w:207,h:23},
{t:"Teir rebellion was straightforward, but also subtle. ",p:117,x:135,y:253,w:367,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:117,x:135,y:288,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Tey never refused to eat the food God provided, but ",p:117,x:164,y:288,w:381,h:23},
{t:"they moaned about eating it.",p:117,x:164,y:316,w:203,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:117,x:135,y:343,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Tey never ceased worshiping God, but they added to ",p:117,x:164,y:343,w:385,h:23},
{t:"their worship local deities, or they designed physical ",p:117,x:164,y:371,w:372,h:23},
{t:"images to make God more culturally relevant to the ",p:117,x:164,y:398,w:369,h:23},
{t:"surrounding people.",p:117,x:164,y:426,w:142,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:117,x:135,y:453,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Tey never explicitly rejected their God, but they ",p:117,x:164,y:453,w:352,h:23},
{t:"refused to obey the leaders he provided. ",p:117,x:164,y:481,w:284,h:23},
{t:"Before long they resorted to grumbling and complaining. ",p:117,x:135,y:516,w:426,h:23},
{t:"Te fesh does that when it is challenged. Tey became resentful ",p:117,x:105,y:543,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and bitter, which happens when people complain so much that ",p:117,x:105,y:571,w:455,h:23},
{t:"their grumbling becomes an art form. Te parallels in our own ",p:117,x:105,y:598,w:455,h:23},
{t:"lives are obvious.",p:117,x:105,y:626,w:119,h:23},
{t:"Te Israelites’ “feshly” voices spoke of how they despised ",p:117,x:135,y:653,w:426,h:23},
{t:"their leaders, conditions, lifestyle, and even God’s government ",p:117,x:105,y:681,w:456,h:23},
{t:"over them. Tragically, none of the rebels, as a result, was allowed ",p:117,x:105,y:708,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to enter the Promised Land. Teir responses were so understand-",p:117,x:105,y:736,w:449,h:23},
{t:"able that we may feel our hearts going out to them. Conditions ",p:117,x:105,y:763,w:454,h:23},
{t:"were difcult. Te further they journeyed from Egypt, the better ",p:117,x:105,y:791,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Egypt seemed to them. Te actions and inclinations of the fesh ",p:117,x:105,y:818,w:454,h:23},
{t:"may appear “natural” and “normal,” yet that is precisely the ",p:117,x:105,y:846,w:458,h:23},
{t:"problem. Tere is a danger that we will accept the lifestyle of ",p:117,x:105,y:873,w:456,h:23},
{t:"103",p:118,x:535,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"BROKEN",p:118,x:506,y:64,w:46,h:21},
{t:"those around us as the way we should live. Perhaps we need to ",p:118,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"examine if we sometimes conform in a convenient way to the ",p:118,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"standards of our friends, colleagues, and neighbors—just like the ",p:118,x:105,y:171,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Israelites. Tey lost the Promised Land through that choice and ",p:118,x:105,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"instead had to settle for a wilderness in their future. We have ",p:118,x:105,y:226,w:456,h:23},
{t:"been warned!",p:118,x:105,y:253,w:93,h:23},
{t:"Nothing Less ",p:118,x:157,y:304,w:141,h:30},
{t:"Than E verything",p:118,x:313,y:304,w:183,h:30},
{t:"Te people of Israel would not allow God to cut them down ",p:118,x:135,y:345,w:424,h:23},
{t:"to size. Tey always had an excuse for their reluctance to walk ",p:118,x:105,y:373,w:455,h:23},
{t:"with God. Sadly, this may creep into our lives. We are ofered ",p:118,x:105,y:400,w:456,h:23},
{t:"opportunities to serve God and to be involved in the ministry of ",p:118,x:105,y:428,w:454,h:23},
{t:"his family. Yet other commitments claim priority.",p:118,x:105,y:455,w:347,h:23},
{t:"Often we allow God to chip away at us, but the reality of ",p:118,x:135,y:483,w:425,h:23},
{t:"spiritual brokenness is a no-go area. At the core, this indicates ",p:118,x:105,y:510,w:456,h:23},
{t:"that we are trying to build our love for the Lord on the existing ",p:118,x:105,y:538,w:454,h:23},
{t:"foundation of our lives. We struggle with the idea that he might ",p:118,x:105,y:565,w:454,h:23},
{t:"ask us to replace who we have been with who we could become. ",p:118,x:105,y:593,w:454,h:23},
{t:"To do that, the foundation of our old self would frst need to be ",p:118,x:105,y:620,w:454,h:23},
{t:"broken. It is when things are taken away from us that the real ",p:118,x:105,y:648,w:455,h:23},
{t:"challenge comes. ",p:118,x:105,y:675,w:123,h:23},
{t:"It would be hard not to be moved listening to Joel and ",p:118,x:135,y:703,w:427,h:23},
{t:"LeAnn tell their story. As new recruits to the elder board of the ",p:118,x:105,y:730,w:455,h:23},
{t:"church, they were required to share with the elders and staf how ",p:118,x:105,y:758,w:453,h:23},
{t:"God had been at work in their lives. All went well as they told of ",p:118,x:105,y:785,w:454,h:23},
{t:"growing to love Jesus and to know him personally. Te problem ",p:118,x:105,y:813,w:454,h:23},
{t:"was that they had been part of a sectarian group that demanded ",p:118,x:105,y:840,w:454,h:23},
{t:"exclusive rights upon their lives. Joel broke down and wept as he ",p:118,x:105,y:868,w:454,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:119,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"104",p:119,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"spoke of the challenge involved in separating themselves from ",p:119,x:105,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"that context and discovering freedom in a wider church context.",p:119,x:105,y:143,w:449,h:23},
{t:"As people gathered around to pray for them, w e all knew ",p:119,x:134,y:171,w:425,h:23},
{t:"that God was at work, breaking and remolding their lives. Few ",p:119,x:105,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of us realized how current this breaking would be. A fe w days ",p:119,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"after becoming an elder , Joel, who is in his thir ties, learned ",p:119,x:105,y:253,w:457,h:23},
{t:"that the position he held in a major company was no longer",p:119,x:105,y:281,w:439,h:23},
{t:"his. Forced relocation to another ar ea seemed likely. Joel and ",p:119,x:105,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"LeAnn were broken again; yet determined prayer produced ",p:119,x:105,y:336,w:457,h:23},
{t:"results. Against the odds, J oel found a new job locally, for God ",p:119,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"is at work in their lives.",p:119,x:105,y:391,w:168,h:23},
{t:"One of the frst worship songs I ev",p:119,x:134,y:418,w:240,h:23},
{t:"er heard suggested that",p:119,x:387,y:418,w:162,h:23},
{t:"we wanted God to take us and to ",p:119,x:105,y:446,w:262,h:23},
{t:"break us, that he might ",p:119,x:374,y:446,w:187,h:23},
{t:"then shape our liv es into what he intends us to be. Ov",p:119,x:105,y:473,w:380,h:23},
{t:"er time, ",p:119,x:498,y:473,w:57,h:23},
{t:"many people began to sing the song difer",p:119,x:105,y:501,w:288,h:23},
{t:"ently, expressing the ",p:119,x:407,y:501,w:147,h:23},
{t:"desire for God to take us and to ",p:119,x:105,y:528,w:232,h:23},
{t:"make us what he wants us to ",p:119,x:345,y:528,w:206,h:23},
{t:"be. At frst glance the discr",p:119,x:105,y:556,w:193,h:23},
{t:"epancy may not seem signifcant. ",p:119,x:307,y:556,w:242,h:23},
{t:"Te distinction may appear to be a subtle one, y",p:119,x:105,y:583,w:357,h:23},
{t:"et there is ",p:119,x:479,y:583,w:81,h:23},
{t:"a huge difer ence between the desir e for God to “make” us ",p:119,x:105,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"rather than to ",p:119,x:105,y:638,w:99,h:23},
{t:"“break” us. Ter e is something much ",p:119,x:210,y:638,w:265,h:23},
{t:"nicer, and ",p:119,x:483,y:638,w:75,h:23},
{t:"less painful, about the idea that G",p:119,x:105,y:666,w:247,h:23},
{t:"od is simply building me ",p:119,x:365,y:666,w:187,h:23},
{t:"into something difer ent. But as Joel and LeAnn disco vered ",p:119,x:105,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"twice, brokenness is sometimes G",p:119,x:105,y:721,w:240,h:23},
{t:"od’s route for our journey",p:119,x:353,y:721,w:183,h:23},
{t:".",p:119,x:542,y:721,w:4,h:23},
{t:"The N ecessity of B",p:119,x:168,y:772,w:195,h:30},
{t:"rokenness",p:119,x:379,y:772,w:102,h:30},
{t:"Te need to be broken is something we prefer not to accept. ",p:119,x:135,y:813,w:424,h:23},
{t:"Tere is a reason for this reluctance. A deep-seated principle ex-",p:119,x:105,y:840,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ists in each of us: we would prefer to live our own lives. It may ",p:119,x:105,y:868,w:455,h:23},
{t:"105",p:120,x:535,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"BROKEN",p:120,x:506,y:64,w:46,h:21},
{t:"sound strange and distinctly old-fashioned to call this “sin,” but ",p:120,x:105,y:116,w:454,h:23},
{t:"that is precisely what it is. None of us is exempt from it, “for all ",p:120,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).",p:120,x:105,y:171,w:445,h:23},
{t:"Sin operates as a root within us and begins to produce its ",p:120,x:135,y:198,w:426,h:23},
{t:"bitter fruit in our lives. Te Pharisees had this thinking reversed. ",p:120,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Tey imagined that their actions created sin, or “uncleanness.” ",p:120,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"No, sin led to their actions. As Jesus said, “From within, out ",p:120,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of men ’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, ",p:120,x:105,y:308,w:457,h:23},
{t:"murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, ",p:120,x:105,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a ",p:120,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"man ‘unclean’” (Mark 7:21–23).",p:120,x:105,y:391,w:228,h:23},
{t:"Cravings generated through sin are called “the fesh.” Tis is ",p:120,x:135,y:418,w:424,h:23},
{t:"not a reference to the human body, but to the carnal desires of ",p:120,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"our human nature. Some of our desires, such as the desires to eat ",p:120,x:105,y:473,w:453,h:23},
{t:"and sleep, are necessary. Te danger comes when self-gratifcation ",p:120,x:105,y:501,w:453,h:23},
{t:"becomes our dominant focus, and the fesh and its carnal desires ",p:120,x:105,y:528,w:454,h:23},
{t:"exercise control over our behavior. Te apostle Paul says that ",p:120,x:105,y:556,w:457,h:23},
{t:"each of us becomes a “slave to sin.” “For what I want to do I do ",p:120,x:105,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"not do, but what I hate I do. . . . It is no longer I myself who do ",p:120,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"it, but it is sin living in me” (Romans 7:14–17). Paul was right: ",p:120,x:105,y:638,w:454,h:23},
{t:"we are enslaved. Te fesh rules and tries to ensure that we never ",p:120,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"admit it!",p:120,x:105,y:693,w:60,h:23},
{t:"Tis is not what God intended; but ever since the disobedi-",p:120,x:135,y:721,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ence of Adam and Eve this is what we face. Tat is precisely ",p:120,x:105,y:748,w:457,h:23},
{t:"why the Lord Jesus had to come as our Savior and Deliverer. We ",p:120,x:105,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"cannot help ourselves. Even after we realize that his death has ",p:120,x:105,y:803,w:456,h:23},
{t:"abolished our slavery, we still act as those enslaved by the fesh.",p:120,x:105,y:831,w:442,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:121,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"106",p:121,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"As Ruth and I walked along a beach a couple of days ago, we ",p:121,x:135,y:116,w:423,h:23},
{t:"noticed many pieces of broken glass. Some beer bottles had been ",p:121,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"thrown into the sea to then be smashed against the rocks by the ",p:121,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"waves. We didn ’t realize, until we picked up a couple of pieces, ",p:121,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"that the constant action of the water and the sand had blunted ",p:121,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the sharp edges of the shards of glass. And the water had changed ",p:121,x:105,y:253,w:453,h:23},
{t:"the color of some of the glass, making the ugliness of a broken ",p:121,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"beer bottle into fragments of beauty. Broken lives immersed in ",p:121,x:105,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the Holy Spirit can tell the same story.",p:121,x:105,y:336,w:270,h:23},
{t:"We may assume that the role of the fesh in our lives can ",p:121,x:135,y:363,w:426,h:23},
{t:"coexist with God’s role. Let me tell you, it can ’t! One or the other ",p:121,x:105,y:391,w:453,h:23},
{t:"will emerge as the victor. Only when Jesus is allowed to live and ",p:121,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"reign in our lives, in his rightful position as Lord and King, can ",p:121,x:105,y:446,w:454,h:23},
{t:"he transform our lives into all that he wants us to be. Only then ",p:121,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"will he truly be able to show his love through us.",p:121,x:105,y:501,w:342,h:23},
{t:"But to know that reality we frst have to be broken. Ten ",p:121,x:135,y:528,w:426,h:23},
{t:"the Spirit of God can begin to do his transforming work on the ",p:121,x:105,y:556,w:454,h:23},
{t:"broken pieces.",p:121,x:105,y:583,w:100,h:23},
{t:"The Value of B",p:121,x:190,y:634,w:156,h:30},
{t:"rokenness",p:121,x:357,y:634,w:102,h:30},
{t:"In the physical realm, when something becomes broken its ",p:121,x:135,y:675,w:425,h:23},
{t:"value is reduced and its usefulness is diminished. It is intriguing ",p:121,x:105,y:703,w:454,h:23},
{t:"that the opposite applies in the spiritual realm. Tere, in another ",p:121,x:105,y:730,w:454,h:23},
{t:"paradox, brokenness creates more value than what was previ-",p:121,x:105,y:758,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ously present.",p:121,x:105,y:785,w:96,h:23},
{t:"Cash in the Attic, a BBC television program, has introduced ",p:121,x:135,y:813,w:424,h:23},
{t:"millions of people to the idea that they might have hidden ",p:121,x:105,y:840,w:458,h:23},
{t:"treasures lurking in their homes. An antiques expert is called ",p:121,x:105,y:868,w:457,h:23},
{t:"107",p:122,x:536,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"BROKEN",p:122,x:506,y:64,w:46,h:21},
{t:"in to search for undiscovered valuables, occasionally striking ",p:122,x:105,y:116,w:458,h:23},
{t:"gold with a valuable painting or a piece of pottery, jewelry, or ",p:122,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"furniture. More often than not, however, he concedes, “Tere is ",p:122,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"evidence of some damage here.” Or he might say, “Tere seems ",p:122,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to have been an attempt at repair.” Occasionally he will have to ",p:122,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"admit, “It appears as if these pieces have been glued together.” ",p:122,x:105,y:253,w:456,h:23},
{t:"At these words, the owner’s face falls and the estimated value ",p:122,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"plummets.",p:122,x:105,y:308,w:75,h:23},
{t:"Tat scenario is in the material world. Spiritually, an un-",p:122,x:135,y:336,w:419,h:23},
{t:"marked man or woman is worth far less than one who has been ",p:122,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"smashed to pieces and patiently remodeled by a loving Father. It ",p:122,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"can be argued that God can fully use only what has been broken. ",p:122,x:105,y:418,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Jesus fed a multitude of people with fve broken loaves of bread ",p:122,x:105,y:446,w:454,h:23},
{t:"(Matthew 14:15–21). Mary of Bethany broke her alabaster jar ",p:122,x:105,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and poured expensive perfume, worth more than a working ",p:122,x:105,y:501,w:458,h:23},
{t:"man ’s annual wages, upon Jesus to prepare him for burial (Mark ",p:122,x:105,y:528,w:454,h:23},
{t:"14:3–9). Te fragrance from this broken vessel stayed with Jesus ",p:122,x:105,y:556,w:454,h:23},
{t:"throughout the agonies and indignities he sufered. God will ",p:122,x:105,y:583,w:457,h:23},
{t:"never reject the ofering of a broken spirit and a contrite heart in ",p:122,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"a man or woman whom he has conquered (Psalm 51:17). ",p:122,x:105,y:638,w:409,h:23},
{t:"As we endure brokenness, our lives are restored to God’s ",p:122,x:135,y:666,w:427,h:23},
{t:"original intention for us. God oftentimes breaks us in certain ",p:122,x:105,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"areas of our lives so that he can use us for something bigger. As ",p:122,x:105,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"we experience his hand and his transforming love in our lives, he ",p:122,x:105,y:748,w:453,h:23},
{t:"begins to change us in ways we could never change on our own. ",p:122,x:105,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Tis transformation may come at the cost of being broken, but ",p:122,x:105,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the Lord who died for us does not smash us beyond repair. Far ",p:122,x:105,y:831,w:455,h:23},
{t:"from it!",p:122,x:105,y:858,w:53,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:123,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"108",p:123,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"Ironically, when we submit a previously unyielded part of ",p:123,x:135,y:116,w:426,h:23},
{t:"our lives to the Lord Jesus, the result is usually not despondency, ",p:123,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"but a sense of relief—the reward of joy that the Holy Spirit ",p:123,x:105,y:171,w:457,h:23},
{t:"provides. Te single most incredible breakage of all was the body ",p:123,x:105,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of Jesus himself, crucifed so we could be restored to an intimate ",p:123,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and personal relationship with God. Yet “for the joy set before ",p:123,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"him [he] endured the cross, scorning it shame, and sat down at ",p:123,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).",p:123,x:105,y:308,w:380,h:23},
{t:"True brokenness comes in resigning control of what we have ",p:123,x:135,y:336,w:423,h:23},
{t:"and who we are to the God who loved us enough to die for us. ",p:123,x:105,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Tat surrender is painful, but the eternal joy that follows is the ",p:123,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"exhilarating reward.",p:123,x:105,y:418,w:140,h:23},
{t:"While I was leading a mission team some years ago, I ",p:123,x:135,y:446,w:429,h:23},
{t:"watched God gently deal with a seventeen-year-old musician ",p:123,x:105,y:473,w:457,h:23},
{t:"named Pete. As the Lord challenged Pete about his lifestyle and ",p:123,x:105,y:501,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the depth of his love for Jesus, Pete fnally broke apart. I had ",p:123,x:105,y:528,w:456,h:23},
{t:"never seen anything quite like it. Tis young man was so broken ",p:123,x:105,y:556,w:454,h:23},
{t:"by the love of God that his tears formed a puddle on the wooden ",p:123,x:105,y:583,w:453,h:23},
{t:"foor beneath his bowed head. Tere was nothing superfcial ",p:123,x:105,y:611,w:457,h:23},
{t:"about that moment. Te Lord stripped Pete of his calcifed outer ",p:123,x:105,y:638,w:454,h:23},
{t:"layers and laid bare the reality of his spiritual life.",p:123,x:105,y:666,w:346,h:23},
{t:"It was a clash of wills. Pete fnally subordinated his own will ",p:123,x:135,y:693,w:424,h:23},
{t:"for his life to God’s will for his life. Something changed that day. ",p:123,x:105,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"When you submit a part of your life that you were unwilling ",p:123,x:105,y:748,w:456,h:23},
{t:"to submit before, you feel the weight and guilt of your sin. But ",p:123,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"then the Holy Spirit comes with his joy. For Pete, tears of sorrow ",p:123,x:105,y:803,w:454,h:23},
{t:"borne from the Holy Spirit’s irresistible grace began to turn into ",p:123,x:105,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"tears of relief and joy. Pete later got married, took a job, and ",p:123,x:105,y:858,w:456,h:23},
{t:"109",p:124,x:535,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"BROKEN",p:124,x:506,y:64,w:46,h:21},
{t:"settled into service in a local church. Occasionally I receive a let-",p:124,x:105,y:116,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ter from this man whose brokenness brought him into reality.",p:124,x:105,y:143,w:434,h:23},
{t:"We can compromise and accept a hypocritical spiritual life ",p:124,x:135,y:171,w:425,h:23},
{t:"that claims to be Christian yet gives little evidence of being more ",p:124,x:105,y:198,w:453,h:23},
{t:"than play-acting. Or, like Pete in his tears, we can fnally give in ",p:124,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and accept the path of brokenness—facing up to what it means ",p:124,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to die to ourselves and discovering the freshness and vitality of ",p:124,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the joy God brings to our everyday lives. Tis is the only way ",p:124,x:105,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"we can progress into that new life that God intends for us. Like ",p:124,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Jesus, we need to be ready and willing to be broken—not just ",p:124,x:105,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"once, but on a daily basis. We will then know, as he did, that joy ",p:124,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"will come to us for eternity.",p:124,x:105,y:418,w:194,h:23},
{t:"Across the centuries, the writings and memoirs of Christians ",p:124,x:135,y:446,w:423,h:23},
{t:"who had a profoundly deep relationship with God have revealed ",p:124,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the principle that God cannot fully bless a person until he has ",p:124,x:105,y:501,w:455,h:23},
{t:"frst broken that person ’s will. Furthermore, the degree of bless-",p:124,x:105,y:528,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ing and joy we receive from God is in direct proportion not to ",p:124,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the fnancial donation we provide to a “ministry,” but to the ",p:124,x:105,y:583,w:457,h:23},
{t:"completeness of the victory that the Lord Jesus gains over our ",p:124,x:105,y:611,w:456,h:23},
{t:"lives.",p:124,x:105,y:638,w:34,h:23},
{t:"Perhaps you are trying desperately to live for Jesus. Stop ",p:124,x:135,y:666,w:427,h:23},
{t:"attempting to do it for him. Let him break the stubborn hold ",p:124,x:105,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of self-will, and then watch as he starts to live his life in you. ",p:124,x:105,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Without being broken, our lives can neither have their intended ",p:124,x:105,y:748,w:454,h:23},
{t:"quality nor acquire their true value. But when we have been lov-",p:124,x:105,y:776,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ingly cut down to size, pruned by the master vine-dresser, then ",p:124,x:105,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"something far more beautiful emerges.",p:124,x:105,y:831,w:271,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:125,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"110",p:125,x:105,y:935,w:16,h:19},
{t:"Te apostle Peter wrote, “Since Christ sufered in his body, ",p:125,x:135,y:116,w:425,h:23},
{t:"arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has ",p:125,x:105,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"sufered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live ",p:125,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for ",p:125,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1–2). It is out of our death to our ",p:125,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"will, our brokenness to what we could achieve, and our empti-",p:125,x:105,y:253,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ness in terms of human ability that our God can bring true life ",p:125,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and real joy! ",p:125,x:105,y:308,w:90,h:23},
{t:"Prayer ",p:125,x:105,y:393,w:75,h:38},
{t:" Spirit of God, please meet me in my need. Even ",p:125,x:194,y:400,w:365,h:28},
{t:"if it means that you take me and break me, would you then mold ",p:125,x:105,y:430,w:455,h:22},
{t:"me and fll me? Draw me toward this broken state of heart. Please ",p:125,x:105,y:457,w:455,h:22},
{t:"rearrange my priorities to align with your will and your kingdom. ",p:125,x:105,y:483,w:455,h:22},
{t:"Empty me of myself, and then, Lord, please use me for your glory. ",p:125,x:105,y:509,w:454,h:22},
{t:"Amen.",p:125,x:105,y:535,w:45,h:22},
{t:"111",p:126,x:538,y:935,w:14,h:19},
{t:"CHAPTER TEN",p:126,x:105,y:240,w:55,h:14},
{t:"Spirit-Filled",p:126,x:105,y:292,w:210,h:69},
{t:"SCARED OF THE SPIRIT?",p:126,x:172,y:380,w:204,h:34},
{t:"It was early summer in Israel. Gazing out over Galilee ",p:126,x:165,y:489,w:394,h:69},
{t:"gave me the amazing sense that little had changed, ",p:126,x:178,y:529,w:383,h:23},
{t:"in terms of the physical topography, since Jesus walked there ",p:126,x:105,y:556,w:457,h:23},
{t:"two thousand years previously. Some other things had also not ",p:126,x:105,y:584,w:455,h:23},
{t:"changed. ",p:126,x:105,y:611,w:67,h:23},
{t:"Twenty-six of us from the church were engaged in a spiritual ",p:126,x:134,y:639,w:423,h:23},
{t:"retreat. Tis was my twelfth trip to Israel, and it was a thrill to ",p:126,x:105,y:666,w:455,h:23},
{t:"introduce friends to places that mean so much to me—none ",p:126,x:105,y:694,w:457,h:23},
{t:"more than this site. Eremos Heights, with its cove and symbolic ",p:126,x:105,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"pillar overlooking Galilee, is regarded by many as the “solitary ",p:126,x:105,y:749,w:456,h:23},
{t:"place” where Jesus came to talk with his Father (Mark 1:35). ",p:126,x:105,y:776,w:456,h:23},
{t:"It may well be the location where he preached the Sermon on ",p:126,x:105,y:804,w:456,h:23},
{t:"the Mount. Be that as it may, it is a wonderful setting for peer-",p:126,x:105,y:831,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ing into the past, contemplating Jesus, and meditating upon ",p:126,x:105,y:859,w:457,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:127,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"112",p:127,x:105,y:935,w:15,h:19},
{t:"the future with him. I had given the group three hours for this ",p:127,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"purpose. But our time got interrupted.",p:127,x:105,y:143,w:273,h:23},
{t:"Te day before, we had been at the ruins of Hazor and viewed ",p:127,x:134,y:171,w:423,h:23},
{t:"the obscenity of an eighth-century bc Asherah pole, which had ",p:127,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"been used in pagan worship. Now, on Eremos Heights, a mem-",p:127,x:105,y:226,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ber of our party saw an object that looked suspiciously similar. ",p:127,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"I was not particularly surprised. Israel has never totally escaped ",p:127,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"from its spiritual past. I had encountered Asherah poles littering ",p:127,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Eremos Heights on prior trips. Tey had obviously been shaped ",p:127,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and placed there in order to desecrate what for many pilgrims ",p:127,x:105,y:363,w:456,h:23},
{t:"is a holy site. Some things just don ’t change. It didn ’t take long ",p:127,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to identify a series of marker stones placed to designate this site ",p:127,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"for pagan worship. Tey had been recently created, so the intent ",p:127,x:105,y:446,w:454,h:23},
{t:"was obvious. Te only question was, What we were prepared to ",p:127,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"do about it?",p:127,x:105,y:501,w:84,h:23},
{t:"Many years ago, while confronting practicing witches in a ",p:127,x:134,y:528,w:426,h:23},
{t:"media debate on Halloween night, I had concluded that spiri-",p:127,x:105,y:556,w:449,h:23},
{t:"tual warfare was no myth. And having seen people struggle with ",p:127,x:105,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"spiritual assaults in the aftermath of removing an Asherah pole, ",p:127,x:105,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"I paused before taking action. But after a few of us got together ",p:127,x:105,y:638,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and prayed, we decided to take action. ",p:127,x:105,y:666,w:276,h:23},
{t:"Young Jamie Marshall, who was my intern that summer, ",p:127,x:134,y:693,w:427,h:23},
{t:"boldly stepped forward to pull up the frst stone. Jamie had ",p:127,x:105,y:721,w:457,h:23},
{t:"developed his muscles and was a bit proud of his strength. He ",p:127,x:105,y:748,w:455,h:23},
{t:"pulled, pushed, and tugged, but there was no way that the stone ",p:127,x:105,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"would move.",p:127,x:105,y:803,w:91,h:23},
{t:"Jamie seemed a little startled when I ofered to help. One ",p:127,x:134,y:831,w:426,h:23},
{t:"look at my physique was likely enough to persuade him that ",p:127,x:105,y:858,w:457,h:23},
{t:"113",p:128,x:537,y:935,w:16,h:19},
{t:"SPIRIT -FILLED",p:128,x:467,y:64,w:78,h:21},
{t:"there was little I could do. Sure enough, when I took a try, the ",p:128,x:104,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"stone did not budge. Ten I began to call for help: “Not by ",p:128,x:104,y:143,w:457,h:23},
{t:"might, nor by power, but by your Spirit, Lord.” Te rock moved. ",p:128,x:104,y:171,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Soon it was unearthed and discarded.",p:128,x:104,y:198,w:263,h:23},
{t:"Jamie then attempted to dislodge the next rock, again with ",p:128,x:134,y:226,w:425,h:23},
{t:"similar results. Only when he verbalized the need for the power ",p:128,x:104,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of God’s Spirit could he remove these instruments of pagan ",p:128,x:104,y:281,w:458,h:23},
{t:"worship. ",p:128,x:104,y:308,w:65,h:23},
{t:"Time and again God longs to show us that when human ",p:128,x:134,y:336,w:426,h:23},
{t:"resources fail he is ready to be there for us. His Spirit comes to ",p:128,x:104,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"our rescue when we experience failure via our own strength. If ",p:128,x:104,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"only we would surrender earlier and recognize that a crucifed ",p:128,x:104,y:418,w:456,h:23},
{t:"life provides opportunity for God to work in and through us.",p:128,x:104,y:446,w:432,h:23},
{t:"Losing Contr",p:128,x:243,y:497,w:136,h:30},
{t:"ol",p:128,x:395,y:497,w:19,h:30},
{t:"We may want to panic when we recognize that the spiri-",p:128,x:135,y:538,w:419,h:23},
{t:"tual life cannot be lived under our control. We will encounter ",p:128,x:105,y:565,w:456,h:23},
{t:"circumstances that defy human explanation. Tere will be situ-",p:128,x:105,y:593,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ations that we cannot resolve alone. Tere is also a power, the ",p:128,x:105,y:620,w:456,h:23},
{t:"power of the Holy Spirit, that God places in our lives in order to ",p:128,x:105,y:648,w:454,h:23},
{t:"make us diferent.",p:128,x:105,y:675,w:126,h:23},
{t:"It may be easier, naturally, to wrap our minds around a ",p:128,x:135,y:703,w:427,h:23},
{t:"Father revealed in creation or a Son who walked in history. Te ",p:128,x:105,y:730,w:454,h:23},
{t:"activities of the Holy Spirit are intangible and might impact our ",p:128,x:105,y:758,w:454,h:23},
{t:"lives in the future in ways we cannot anticipate. Some people feel ",p:128,x:105,y:785,w:453,h:23},
{t:"more comfortable looking backward to what the Lord Jesus has ",p:128,x:105,y:813,w:454,h:23},
{t:"done for us. By contrast, it can seem more difcult to understand ",p:128,x:105,y:840,w:453,h:23},
{t:"an indefnable force that comes to live within us, or a God who ",p:128,x:105,y:868,w:454,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:129,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"114",p:129,x:105,y:935,w:16,h:19},
{t:"calls us to victories but fails to explain how he intends to achieve ",p:129,x:105,y:116,w:454,h:23},
{t:"them. After all, who knows what the Holy Spirit might do?",p:129,x:105,y:143,w:417,h:23},
{t:"It is this kind of fear, or innate reservation, that can stop us ",p:129,x:134,y:171,w:424,h:23},
{t:"from moving forward in God. Tere should be little surprise that ",p:129,x:105,y:198,w:453,h:23},
{t:"after the crucifxion a bunch of frightened disciples could only ",p:129,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"be transformed into world-changing followers of Jesus by receiv-",p:129,x:105,y:253,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ing power from on high. Jesus had promised his disciples, “I will ",p:129,x:105,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). He ",p:129,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"reassured them that his going away would be to their advantage ",p:129,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"(John 16:7). Instead of walking alongside them, Jesus’ Spirit ",p:129,x:105,y:363,w:457,h:23},
{t:"would live within them. Sometimes I wonder if they were really ",p:129,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"convinced by this argument. We can be the same: we can start ",p:129,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"out courageously in our relationship with God only to come to ",p:129,x:105,y:446,w:454,h:23},
{t:"an abrupt stop. What is it that causes me to be frightened of ",p:129,x:105,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"moving into the unknown with him? Why are we reluctant to ",p:129,x:105,y:501,w:455,h:23},
{t:"begin the great adventure of moving forward into all that he has ",p:129,x:105,y:528,w:454,h:23},
{t:"for us? What brings us to a sudden halt? Or is it just me?",p:129,x:105,y:556,w:400,h:23},
{t:"Perhaps we are reluctant to understand that God does not ",p:129,x:134,y:583,w:425,h:23},
{t:"want us to live alone, striving to follow him through our own ",p:129,x:105,y:611,w:456,h:23},
{t:"abilities. He wants to provide us with resources beyond our ",p:129,x:105,y:638,w:458,h:23},
{t:"comprehension. He ofers to fll us with his Holy Spirit, so that ",p:129,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"we can live his life through the power of his presence in us.",p:129,x:105,y:693,w:415,h:23},
{t:"Unfortunately, the idea of losing control of our lives and ",p:129,x:134,y:721,w:427,h:23},
{t:"encountering supernatural power has frightened many believers ",p:129,x:105,y:748,w:454,h:23},
{t:"into resisting God’s Spirit. It is one thing to be sold out to God, ",p:129,x:105,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"but it is another to allow him to win the victories through us that ",p:129,x:105,y:803,w:453,h:23},
{t:"he intends, especially when we no longer control the means by ",p:129,x:105,y:831,w:455,h:23},
{t:"which he operates.",p:129,x:105,y:858,w:131,h:23},
{t:"115",p:130,x:537,y:935,w:15,h:19},
{t:"SPIRIT -FILLED",p:130,x:467,y:64,w:78,h:21},
{t:"Scripture tells how King Jehoash of Israel paid the prophet ",p:130,x:135,y:116,w:425,h:23},
{t:"Elisha an unexpected visit when Elisha was on his deathbed. Te ",p:130,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"king’s fattering words didn ’t impress the dying prophet, who im-",p:130,x:105,y:171,w:449,h:23},
{t:"mediately instructed Jehoash to shoot an arrow out the window. ",p:130,x:105,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Elisha announced that this was a prophetic sign representing the ",p:130,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Lord’s “arrow of victory” over Aram (or Syria), Israel’s enemy ",p:130,x:105,y:253,w:457,h:23},
{t:"(2 Kings 13:17). ",p:130,x:105,y:281,w:121,h:23},
{t:"Elisha then urged Jehoash to take the rest of the arrows and ",p:130,x:135,y:308,w:424,h:23},
{t:"strike the ground with them. Te king’s response was halfhearted, ",p:130,x:105,y:336,w:453,h:23},
{t:"as he struck the ground three times. Tis made Elisha angry, and ",p:130,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"he said, “You should have struck the ground fve or six times; ",p:130,x:105,y:391,w:456,h:23},
{t:"then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed ",p:130,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"it. But now you will defeat it only three times” (2 Kings 13:19). ",p:130,x:105,y:446,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Elisha knew that Jehoash ’s lack of faith and zeal was throwing ",p:130,x:135,y:473,w:423,h:23},
{t:"away the victories that God could have given Israel. Te prophet ",p:130,x:105,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"died; and, sure enough, the Arameans continued to oppress ",p:130,x:105,y:528,w:458,h:23},
{t:"Israel until Jehoash fnally recovered some ground by defeating ",p:130,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the Arameans three times (2 Kings 13:20–25).",p:130,x:105,y:583,w:327,h:23},
{t:"To understand this story, we need to know the historical ",p:130,x:135,y:611,w:427,h:23},
{t:"and the political situation. Israel, at the time, was threatened ",p:130,x:105,y:638,w:457,h:23},
{t:"by the strongest military force they had faced since entering ",p:130,x:105,y:666,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Canaan. Te nation of Assyria posed a major threat to Israel’s ",p:130,x:105,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"survival. Israel’s national security had remained intact because to ",p:130,x:105,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the northeast—between Assyria and Israel—lay her old enemy ",p:130,x:105,y:748,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Aram. As long as Aram served as a bufer state, Israel was safe. ",p:130,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Jehoash knew that the number of times he beat the ground with ",p:130,x:105,y:803,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the arrows represented the number of times the Lord’s “arrow of ",p:130,x:105,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"victory” would beat the Arameans in battle. A couple of times ",p:130,x:105,y:858,w:456,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:131,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"116",p:131,x:105,y:935,w:16,h:19},
{t:"would be sweet revenge for past defeats. But more than three ",p:131,x:105,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"times could threaten an Aramean collapse, which would bring ",p:131,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Israel face-to-face with the enormous military might of Assyria. ",p:131,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Faced with this sobering challenge, King Jehoash took the cow-",p:131,x:105,y:198,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ard’s way out and stopped after three times (2 Kings 13:18). No ",p:131,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"wonder Elisha was furious. Te king would not rely on God to ",p:131,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"direct and protect his people. ",p:131,x:105,y:281,w:210,h:23},
{t:"Are we any braver today? Tere may be times when we are ",p:131,x:134,y:308,w:425,h:23},
{t:"afraid to go out on a limb with God to discover where he wants ",p:131,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to take us. We may even be secretly scared of what his Holy ",p:131,x:105,y:363,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Spirit wants to do in and through our lives. ",p:131,x:105,y:391,w:310,h:23},
{t:"God doesn ’t just want to give us a feeling; he wants to give us ",p:131,x:134,y:418,w:423,h:23},
{t:"his own Spirit. He challenges us to do exploits in his name—not ",p:131,x:105,y:446,w:454,h:23},
{t:"through our power, but through his.",p:131,x:105,y:473,w:256,h:23},
{t:"Stop—We Have Not  ",p:131,x:217,y:524,w:240,h:30},
{t:"Been P roperly I ntroduced!",p:131,x:179,y:551,w:293,h:30},
{t:"It’s understandable to be cautious about beginning a journey ",p:131,x:135,y:592,w:423,h:23},
{t:"when you are uncertain about the identity and the character of ",p:131,x:105,y:619,w:455,h:23},
{t:"your traveling companion. Tis is how some of us feel about the ",p:131,x:105,y:647,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Holy Spirit.",p:131,x:105,y:674,w:84,h:23},
{t:"A woman took me aside recently and asked me to confrm ",p:131,x:135,y:702,w:425,h:23},
{t:"that nothing supernatural would ever take place in our church. I ",p:131,x:105,y:729,w:454,h:23},
{t:"apologized for being unable to give her that assurance! In view of ",p:131,x:105,y:757,w:453,h:23},
{t:"the almighty God, the idea that he should deny his own nature ",p:131,x:105,y:784,w:455,h:23},
{t:"in order to accommodate our fears seems faintly ridiculous.",p:131,x:105,y:812,w:418,h:23},
{t:"Considering that the Holy Spirit is “supernatural” by defni-",p:131,x:135,y:839,w:419,h:23},
{t:"tion, there is nothing particularly unusual, odd, or strange about ",p:131,x:105,y:867,w:454,h:23},
{t:"117",p:132,x:537,y:935,w:15,h:19},
{t:"SPIRIT -FILLED",p:132,x:467,y:64,w:78,h:21},
{t:"the way he works. But there is nothing human about how he ",p:132,x:104,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"works, either, because the Holy Spirit is God himself. Are we to ",p:132,x:104,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"be afraid of the God who 366 times in the Bible urges people ",p:132,x:104,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"not to be afraid? We don ’t need to fear his nature, his Spirit, or ",p:132,x:104,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"where he will take us.",p:132,x:104,y:226,w:151,h:23},
{t:"Scripture reveals that the Holy Spirit is personal, just as ",p:132,x:134,y:253,w:427,h:23},
{t:"the Father and the Son are personal. To put it plainly, the Holy ",p:132,x:104,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Spirit is God’s presence in us. He is so personal that",p:132,x:104,y:308,w:364,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:132,x:134,y:343,w:11,h:23},
{t:"He feels (Ephesians 4:30).",p:132,x:164,y:343,w:184,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:132,x:134,y:371,w:11,h:23},
{t:"He acts (John 16:7–11).",p:132,x:164,y:371,w:171,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:132,x:134,y:398,w:11,h:23},
{t:"He knows (John 14:26).",p:132,x:164,y:398,w:172,h:23},
{t:"Te Spirit does all this for a purpose. He takes hold of regu-",p:132,x:134,y:433,w:419,h:23},
{t:"lar people who have surrendered their lives to God and makes ",p:132,x:104,y:461,w:455,h:23},
{t:"us into change agents in our world. He begins to mold us into ",p:132,x:104,y:488,w:455,h:23},
{t:"those who will transform the future of the world and the popula-",p:132,x:104,y:516,w:449,h:23},
{t:"tion of heaven.",p:132,x:104,y:543,w:105,h:23},
{t:"One person who desired this to happen was Bill Bright, the ",p:132,x:134,y:571,w:424,h:23},
{t:"founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. He pointed out that ",p:132,x:104,y:598,w:457,h:23},
{t:"when a Christian is flled with the Holy Spirit, he or she is flled ",p:132,x:104,y:626,w:454,h:23},
{t:"with Jesus Christ. So the Christian no longer thinks of Christ ",p:132,x:104,y:653,w:456,h:23},
{t:"as one who helps us do some kind of Christian task, but rather ",p:132,x:104,y:681,w:455,h:23},
{t:"he thinks of Christ as the one who does the work through the ",p:132,x:104,y:708,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Christian. ",p:132,x:104,y:736,w:75,h:23},
{t:"Since he is God, the Holy Spirit can be everywhere simulta-",p:132,x:134,y:763,w:419,h:23},
{t:"neously, molding ordinary people into the likeness of the Lord ",p:132,x:104,y:791,w:455,h:23},
{t:"they love and serve. As we grow, he reveals areas in our lives ",p:132,x:104,y:818,w:457,h:23},
{t:"where we need to be strengthened. He acts like a potter who ",p:132,x:104,y:846,w:456,h:23},
{t:"ficks the rim of a pot and listens to discern a perfect glaze. If the ",p:132,x:104,y:873,w:453,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:133,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"118",p:133,x:105,y:935,w:16,h:19},
{t:"tone is wrong, then he puts us back into God’s furnace until the ",p:133,x:105,y:116,w:454,h:23},
{t:"fre has done its work. Only then can the Holy Spirit release us ",p:133,x:105,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to live and act as the hands and feet of Jesus.",p:133,x:105,y:171,w:313,h:23},
{t:"Stop—We May Not Be in Contr",p:133,x:135,y:222,w:342,h:30},
{t:"ol!",p:133,x:495,y:222,w:26,h:30},
{t:"A close friend of mine was speaking at a large Christian con-",p:133,x:135,y:263,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ference, trying to challenge a group of local church leaders about ",p:133,x:105,y:290,w:453,h:23},
{t:"the role of the Holy Spirit in their churches. He suggested that ",p:133,x:105,y:318,w:455,h:23},
{t:"if the Holy Spirit were removed from our congregations it might ",p:133,x:105,y:345,w:453,h:23},
{t:"be possible for approximately 95 percent of our church activities ",p:133,x:105,y:373,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to continue on unchanged. It would appear to be “business as ",p:133,x:105,y:400,w:456,h:23},
{t:"usual.”",p:133,x:105,y:428,w:47,h:23},
{t:"He intended this to be a daring statement, designed to ",p:133,x:135,y:455,w:428,h:23},
{t:"provoke a strong declaration from the church leaders about how ",p:133,x:105,y:483,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the Holy Spirit was alive and well—highly active in the churches ",p:133,x:105,y:510,w:453,h:23},
{t:"represented by the group. My friend was greatly disconcerted ",p:133,x:105,y:538,w:457,h:23},
{t:"that the one question raised at the end of the session came from ",p:133,x:105,y:565,w:454,h:23},
{t:"a church leader who wanted to know how a congregation could ",p:133,x:105,y:593,w:454,h:23},
{t:"be structured to cover the remaining 5 percent! In this leader’s ",p:133,x:105,y:620,w:455,h:23},
{t:"mind, the intervention of the Holy Spirit was too unpredictable ",p:133,x:105,y:648,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to be included. He was more comfortable with what could be ",p:133,x:105,y:675,w:456,h:23},
{t:"controlled.",p:133,x:105,y:703,w:76,h:23},
{t:"Te desire to stick to known territory is what provides the ",p:133,x:135,y:730,w:425,h:23},
{t:"motivation for this safety-frst policy. We deeply desire to feel in ",p:133,x:105,y:758,w:454,h:23},
{t:"control. Te idea that the Holy Spirit might take us where he ",p:133,x:105,y:785,w:456,h:23},
{t:"wants or work in us as he wants makes us distinctly cautious. ",p:133,x:105,y:813,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Why are we wary of the one who is the essence of God working ",p:133,x:105,y:840,w:454,h:23},
{t:"119",p:134,x:537,y:935,w:16,h:19},
{t:"SPIRIT -FILLED",p:134,x:467,y:64,w:78,h:21},
{t:"in our lives? Tat is a good question, especially when the most ",p:134,x:104,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"subversive thing he is trying to do is to make us more like Jesus!",p:134,x:104,y:143,w:449,h:23},
{t:"Tere is an answer that may shake our security system. “An ",p:134,x:134,y:171,w:424,h:23},
{t:"enemy has done this. . . . Satan has opposed the doctrine of ",p:134,x:104,y:198,w:457,h:23},
{t:"the Spirit-flled life about as bitterly as any other doctrine there ",p:134,x:104,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"is. He has confused it, opposed it and surrounded it with false ",p:134,x:104,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"notions and fears. He has blocked every efort of the church of ",p:134,x:104,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Christ to receive from the Father, his divine and blood-bought ",p:134,x:104,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"patrimony [or inheritance]. Te church has tragically neglected ",p:134,x:104,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"this great liberating truth—that there is now for the child of ",p:134,x:104,y:363,w:457,h:23},
{t:"God a full and wonderful and completely satisfying anointing ",p:134,x:104,y:391,w:456,h:23},
{t:"with the Holy Spirit.”1 ",p:134,x:104,y:418,w:163,h:23},
{t:"Some people feel most comfortable aligning themselves with ",p:134,x:135,y:446,w:423,h:23},
{t:"a particular movement or a set of beliefs within the faith. Others, ",p:134,x:105,y:473,w:453,h:23},
{t:"however, have begun to emphatically reject labels, whatever they ",p:134,x:105,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"might be, in their quest for the living God. Frankly, we can no ",p:134,x:105,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"longer aford the luxury of supporting a particular Christian ",p:134,x:105,y:556,w:457,h:23},
{t:"“team” or “party.” Instead, we must seek the fullness of the Holy ",p:134,x:105,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Spirit wherever God is to be found. Scripture provides us with ",p:134,x:105,y:611,w:456,h:23},
{t:"invaluable guidance to discern the presence of the Holy Spirit. ",p:134,x:105,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"We are urged to always “test the spirits to see whether they are ",p:134,x:105,y:666,w:455,h:23},
{t:"from God” (1 John 4:1). “Te spirits” refers to people who are ",p:134,x:105,y:693,w:455,h:23},
{t:"motivated by a spirit, whether by the Holy Spirit or an evil spirit. ",p:134,x:105,y:721,w:453,h:23},
{t:"We always need to make sure that it is God, not a human or evil ",p:134,x:105,y:748,w:454,h:23},
{t:"spirit, at work. Ten we can join in.",p:134,x:105,y:776,w:253,h:23},
{t:"1.",p:134,x:105,y:866,w:11,h:19},
{t:" A. W. Tozer, How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit (Camp Hill, PA: ",p:134,x:123,y:866,w:390,h:19},
{t:"Christian Publications, Inc., 2001), 32.",p:134,x:104,y:886,w:227,h:19},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:135,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"120",p:135,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"We are instructed to be flled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians ",p:135,x:135,y:116,w:423,h:23},
{t:"5:18). So let’s ask ourselves, Where would I be today without the ",p:135,x:105,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Holy Spirit in my life? I hope we don ’t have to admit that, due to ",p:135,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"neglecting the Spirit, there would be no diference in our lives. ",p:135,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"If this is the case, we are still desperately trying to determine our ",p:135,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"own direction. Jesus explained that the Holy Spirit is like the ",p:135,x:105,y:253,w:456,h:23},
{t:"wind: it “blows wherever it pleases” (John 3:8). If we are still ",p:135,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"eager to retain control of our lives, we will be reluctant to allow ",p:135,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the Spirit to take us where he wants.",p:135,x:105,y:336,w:256,h:23},
{t:"Te Holy Spirit has been called many things. He has been ",p:135,x:135,y:363,w:425,h:23},
{t:"referred to as Satan ’s unsolved problem. He has been identifed ",p:135,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"as the author of every positive revolution in the history of the ",p:135,x:105,y:418,w:456,h:23},
{t:"church and society. Appropriately he has been described as God’s ",p:135,x:105,y:446,w:453,h:23},
{t:"secret weapon, bringing explosive life to his people. Whatever ",p:135,x:105,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"way you look at it, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would ",p:135,x:105,y:501,w:456,h:23},
{t:"be the reality of the presence of the living God at home in our ",p:135,x:105,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"hearts, revealing Jesus in the lives of every believer.",p:135,x:105,y:556,w:355,h:23},
{t:"What causes our fear of the Holy Spirit? Te answer lies in a ",p:135,x:135,y:583,w:424,h:23},
{t:"sense of uncertainty about where the Holy Spirit might take us, ",p:135,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"although he will always act in line with the biblical pattern.",p:135,x:105,y:638,w:418,h:23},
{t:"Te Holy Spirit draws us to the cross and then takes us to ",p:135,x:135,y:666,w:425,h:23},
{t:"the far side of the cross by equipping and enabling us to lead sur-",p:135,x:105,y:693,w:449,h:23},
{t:"rendered lives in the way that our God always intended. When ",p:135,x:105,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"our old self has died, then the Holy Spirit can come and make ",p:135,x:105,y:748,w:455,h:23},
{t:"all things new (Romans 8:13–14). Tat is what is meant by “the ",p:135,x:105,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"crucifed life.” When we acknowledge our inability to do the will ",p:135,x:105,y:803,w:453,h:23},
{t:"of God, we fnally surrender to the Holy Spirit.",p:135,x:105,y:831,w:333,h:23},
{t:"121",p:136,x:537,y:935,w:15,h:19},
{t:"SPIRIT -FILLED",p:136,x:467,y:64,w:78,h:21},
{t:"Where the S pirit B lows",p:136,x:198,y:115,w:260,h:30},
{t:"Te twenty-frst century will probably see more Christian ",p:136,x:135,y:156,w:426,h:23},
{t:"martyrs than all previous centuries combined have seen. Tis ",p:136,x:105,y:183,w:457,h:23},
{t:"was true of the twentieth century as well, and the situation is ",p:136,x:105,y:211,w:456,h:23},
{t:"deteriorating in much of the world. Yet many people today want ",p:136,x:105,y:238,w:454,h:23},
{t:"a faith that can be comfortably added to their daily routine. ",p:136,x:105,y:266,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Te church often refects the culture of its society. Far from the ",p:136,x:105,y:293,w:455,h:23},
{t:"church changing the world, the world is sculpting the church.",p:136,x:105,y:321,w:436,h:23},
{t:"Others are far less satisfed with the current state of af-",p:136,x:135,y:348,w:419,h:23},
{t:"fairs. Tey are asking how a church can develop an authentic ",p:136,x:105,y:376,w:456,h:23},
{t:"combination of healing, deliverance from demons, prayer, and ",p:136,x:105,y:403,w:456,h:23},
{t:"submission to the authority of Scripture. How can we grow to ",p:136,x:105,y:431,w:455,h:23},
{t:"resemble the early church, where all of these spiritual expressions ",p:136,x:105,y:458,w:453,h:23},
{t:"were valued? No group claimed a monopoly on the Holy Spirit, ",p:136,x:105,y:486,w:454,h:23},
{t:"but each saw him at work among them in diverse ways.",p:136,x:105,y:513,w:390,h:23},
{t:"One might even ponder, Where would I fnd the Holy Spirit ",p:136,x:135,y:541,w:425,h:23},
{t:"changing people",p:136,x:105,y:568,w:105,h:23},
{t:"’s lives in such a dramatic fashion today? Te answer ",p:136,x:208,y:568,w:350,h:23},
{t:"is that you can see God at work, building his church in this way, ",p:136,x:105,y:596,w:454,h:23},
{t:"in many parts of the world. In Cambodia and Mozambique, ",p:136,x:105,y:623,w:457,h:23},
{t:"in Albania and Nicaragua, in Ethiopia and Iraq—wherever the ",p:136,x:105,y:651,w:455,h:23},
{t:"church has been under pressure, its true character has shone ",p:136,x:105,y:678,w:457,h:23},
{t:"through.",p:136,x:105,y:706,w:61,h:23},
{t:"One notable place is an Assemblies of God church in ",p:136,x:135,y:733,w:429,h:23},
{t:"Tehran. Several hundred people attend this thriving fellowship ",p:136,x:105,y:761,w:455,h:23},
{t:"in the capital city of Iran. Te congregation boldly advertises ",p:136,x:105,y:788,w:456,h:23},
{t:"its presence with a large metal cross attached to the front of the ",p:136,x:105,y:816,w:454,h:23},
{t:"church building, elevated so that no one can miss it.",p:136,x:105,y:843,w:368,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:137,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"122",p:137,x:105,y:935,w:16,h:19},
{t:"One Friday (the Muslim day of worship), a blind eighty-six-",p:137,x:135,y:116,w:420,h:23},
{t:"year-old man tapped his way past the gates of the church. He ",p:137,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"paused and asked some of those nearby if this was the church. ",p:137,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Tey attempted to redirect him to the mosque because they were ",p:137,x:105,y:198,w:453,h:23},
{t:"sure that must be his intended destination. Imagine their surprise ",p:137,x:105,y:226,w:453,h:23},
{t:"when he told them that while praying for his village he had seen ",p:137,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"an image of a great white cloud descending upon it—and in the ",p:137,x:105,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"center of the cloud was the vivid outline of a cross. Tat was the ",p:137,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"reason he searched for the church. Discovering that Jesus was the ",p:137,x:105,y:336,w:453,h:23},
{t:"way God intended to help his village, he surrendered his life to ",p:137,x:105,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"his newly discovered Savior.",p:137,x:105,y:391,w:196,h:23},
{t:"When asked how far he had traveled to fnd the church, ",p:137,x:135,y:418,w:427,h:23},
{t:"his answer was astounding. At eighty-six years of age, he had ",p:137,x:105,y:446,w:456,h:23},
{t:"journeyed by bus and on foot about 850 kilometers (530 miles). ",p:137,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Now he tries to make the journey once a month, just to be able ",p:137,x:105,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to worship with brothers and sisters in Jesus. ",p:137,x:105,y:528,w:318,h:23},
{t:"God is not at work solely in the Middle East. While visiting ",p:137,x:135,y:556,w:424,h:23},
{t:"a seminary in Delhi, North India, recently, I conducted a survey. ",p:137,x:105,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"One of the questions focused on the factors that led the students ",p:137,x:105,y:611,w:453,h:23},
{t:"to come to faith in Christ. I asked them to add any reason that ",p:137,x:105,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"was not on the survey. Tirty-four of the 155 students responded ",p:137,x:105,y:666,w:453,h:23},
{t:"that their personal experience of healing was a major factor in ",p:137,x:105,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"bringing them to Christ. One young man training for ministry ",p:137,x:105,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"wrote these amazing words: “I saw my brother raised from the ",p:137,x:105,y:748,w:455,h:23},
{t:"dead and gave my life to Jesus.” Well, what else would you do?! ",p:137,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Five other students had also personally witnessed a resurrection.",p:137,x:105,y:803,w:449,h:23},
{t:"As a basic part of the Christianity they had embraced, most ",p:137,x:135,y:831,w:424,h:23},
{t:"of the students had prayed for freedom from either witchcraft ",p:137,x:105,y:858,w:456,h:23},
{t:"123",p:138,x:536,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"SPIRIT -FILLED",p:138,x:467,y:64,w:78,h:21},
{t:"or demonic assault, for physical healing and protection, and ",p:138,x:104,y:116,w:458,h:23},
{t:"for miraculous provision of what they needed to serve God. ",p:138,x:104,y:143,w:457,h:23},
{t:"For them, a faith devoid of any supernatural element would be ",p:138,x:104,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"incomprehensible.",p:138,x:104,y:198,w:129,h:23},
{t:"A few years ago, I was one of the speakers at the missions ",p:138,x:134,y:226,w:426,h:23},
{t:"weekend of a church in southern California, a large congregation ",p:138,x:104,y:253,w:453,h:23},
{t:"known for its commitment to global outreach. In a preparatory ",p:138,x:104,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"briefng, I was staggered to be asked if I would “Go easy on ",p:138,x:104,y:308,w:457,h:23},
{t:"miracles.”",p:138,x:104,y:336,w:68,h:23},
{t:"To the vast number of people who have come to faith ",p:138,x:134,y:363,w:428,h:23},
{t:"through visions or dreams, to the African witch doctor who has ",p:138,x:104,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"witnessed the God who does greater things, and to the belea-",p:138,x:104,y:418,w:449,h:23},
{t:"guered and oppressed Christian minorities in Muslim nations, ",p:138,x:104,y:446,w:456,h:23},
{t:"such as the Balkans, such a comment would be unfathomable.",p:138,x:104,y:473,w:439,h:23},
{t:"Set on F ire",p:138,x:269,y:524,w:121,h:30},
{t:"A crucifed life—anywhere in the world—is not prepared ",p:138,x:135,y:565,w:426,h:23},
{t:"to stand still. Our journey is from the cross to the Spirit, and if ",p:138,x:105,y:593,w:455,h:23},
{t:"we fail to move on, it is at our peril. Tragically, the desire to stay ",p:138,x:105,y:620,w:454,h:23},
{t:"in charge can leave us becalmed, stuck halfway between Good ",p:138,x:105,y:648,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Friday and Pentecost. We have arrived at a point of initial sur-",p:138,x:105,y:675,w:449,h:23},
{t:"render to Jesus Christ, yet we struggle to let go of control. Too ",p:138,x:105,y:703,w:455,h:23},
{t:"many of us are trying to operate our lives with our fnite power ,  ",p:138,x:105,y:730,w:450,h:23},
{t:"when God is ready to release his infnite power within us.",p:138,x:105,y:758,w:403,h:23},
{t:"God’s Spirit comes to set our lives ablaze with a new radi-",p:138,x:135,y:785,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ance and power. He does not urge us, in our own strength, to ",p:138,x:105,y:813,w:455,h:23},
{t:"more truly love God and the things that God loves. No, the ",p:138,x:105,y:840,w:457,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:139,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"124",p:139,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"Spirit comes to work through us—as he did through Stephen, ",p:139,x:105,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"the frst Christian martyr—to:",p:139,x:105,y:143,w:214,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:139,x:134,y:178,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Serve others (Acts 6:1–6).",p:139,x:164,y:178,w:182,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:139,x:134,y:206,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Live powerfully (Acts 6:8).",p:139,x:164,y:206,w:188,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:139,x:134,y:233,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Speak boldly (Acts 7:51–60).",p:139,x:164,y:233,w:205,h:23},
{t:"Tis is wonderfully fulflling. What more could we want?",p:139,x:134,y:268,w:403,h:23},
{t:"Jim Elliot, a twentieth-century martyr, wrote in his journal, ",p:139,x:134,y:296,w:424,h:23},
{t:"“Psalm 104:4: ‘He makes His ministers a fame of fre.’ Am ",p:139,x:105,y:323,w:457,h:23},
{t:"I ignitable? God deliver me from the dread asbestos of ‘other ",p:139,x:105,y:351,w:456,h:23},
{t:"things.’ Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit that I may be a ",p:139,x:105,y:378,w:456,h:23},
{t:"fame.” Tis amazing power of the Holy Spirit to burn up the ",p:139,x:105,y:406,w:456,h:23},
{t:"old and set us on fre to live for Jesus is available to all of God’s ",p:139,x:105,y:433,w:455,h:23},
{t:"people. ",p:139,x:105,y:461,w:55,h:23},
{t:"Te Spirit doesn ’t come to fulfll our personal desires or ",p:139,x:134,y:488,w:427,h:23},
{t:"ambitions. He comes to be in the driver’s seat! He comes to ",p:139,x:105,y:516,w:457,h:23},
{t:"conform our lives to his purposes for us and—like an eternal ",p:139,x:105,y:543,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Olympic torch—to keep the Spirit’s fre burning within us!",p:139,x:105,y:571,w:416,h:23},
{t:"Stop, I D on’t Want to G",p:139,x:148,y:622,w:260,h:30},
{t:"o Ther e!",p:139,x:419,y:622,w:91,h:30},
{t:"For King Jehoash, the rubber had hit the road. He thought, ",p:139,x:135,y:663,w:424,h:23},
{t:"I won",p:139,x:105,y:690,w:39,h:23},
{t:"’t beat the arrows on the ground too many times. If I do, then ",p:139,x:142,y:690,w:417,h:23},
{t:"only God will be left between Israel and the armies of Assyria. He ",p:139,x:105,y:718,w:456,h:23},
{t:"might as well have thought I don",p:139,x:105,y:745,w:238,h:23},
{t:"’t have the faith for that or I’m ",p:139,x:341,y:745,w:220,h:23},
{t:"just too scared to go there.",p:139,x:105,y:773,w:171,h:23},
{t:"If we were brutally honest with ourselves, we might acknowl-",p:139,x:135,y:800,w:419,h:23},
{t:"edge that we are content to stay where we are. We are delighted ",p:139,x:105,y:828,w:454,h:23},
{t:"when God blesses us. We are thrilled to see minor victories on ",p:139,x:105,y:855,w:455,h:23},
{t:"our journey. But the idea of an unrestricted journey from the ",p:139,x:105,y:883,w:456,h:23},
{t:"125",p:140,x:536,y:935,w:16,h:19},
{t:"SPIRIT -FILLED",p:140,x:467,y:64,w:78,h:21},
{t:"sacrifce of the cross to the ignition of the combustible Spirit ",p:140,x:104,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"within us . . . Well, isn ’t that taking it a little bit too far? And ",p:140,x:104,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"didn ’t we receive all that we need at conversion anyway? ",p:140,x:104,y:171,w:397,h:23},
{t:"No one can doubt that we receive the Holy Spirit when we ",p:140,x:134,y:198,w:424,h:23},
{t:"surrender our lives to the Lord Jesus. But is that the end of our ",p:140,x:104,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"journey? If he comes into our lives at conversion, then there ",p:140,x:104,y:253,w:457,h:23},
{t:"must be enough evidence of his presence to prove the fact. Te ",p:140,x:104,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"famed twentieth-century British preacher David Martyn Lloyd-",p:140,x:104,y:308,w:449,h:23},
{t:"Jones voiced a concern about the reality of the Holy Spirit in our ",p:140,x:104,y:336,w:453,h:23},
{t:"lives when he exclaimed, “Got it, got it—well, where is it, I ask?” ",p:140,x:104,y:363,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Te simple truth is that each of us needs to know an ongoing",p:140,x:134,y:391,w:419,h:23},
{t:"work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives. If you and I want ",p:140,x:104,y:418,w:453,h:23},
{t:"to be flled to overfowing with the love and power of the living ",p:140,x:104,y:446,w:454,h:23},
{t:"God, then we frst need to be emptied. We need to lose our fears ",p:140,x:104,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and trust him. It all begins at the cross. But that work then needs ",p:140,x:104,y:501,w:453,h:23},
{t:"to continue.",p:140,x:104,y:528,w:86,h:23},
{t:"When the nineteenth-century American evangelist D. L. ",p:140,x:134,y:556,w:428,h:23},
{t:"Moody was asked why he needed a continual flling of the Holy ",p:140,x:104,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Spirit, his response was a masterpiece of spiritual common sense. ",p:140,x:104,y:611,w:453,h:23},
{t:"He said, “I need to be flled with the Spirit every moment of ",p:140,x:104,y:638,w:456,h:23},
{t:"each day because I leak.” We too can be very leaky people—",p:140,x:104,y:666,w:449,h:23},
{t:"people who need to know the reality of God’s present activity in ",p:140,x:104,y:693,w:454,h:23},
{t:"our experience of him today, not just in our memories. We were ",p:140,x:104,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"never destined to simply sit apart from the crowd or to just limp ",p:140,x:104,y:748,w:454,h:23},
{t:"our way through life. Te Holy Spirit provides what is lacking in ",p:140,x:104,y:776,w:453,h:23},
{t:"our spiritual lives so that we may be fully efective for God. ",p:140,x:104,y:803,w:421,h:23},
{t:"God will not lead all of us the same way. He knows how dif-",p:140,x:134,y:831,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ferent each of his children is in their temperaments, responses, ",p:140,x:104,y:858,w:455,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:141,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"126",p:141,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"and needs. God leads us in diferent ways but toward the same ",p:141,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"destination. He may give you a mighty and loud encounter with ",p:141,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the Holy Spirit, or he may lead you into a quiet but ongoing ",p:141,x:105,y:171,w:456,h:23},
{t:"engagement with the sanctifying work of his Spirit within you.",p:141,x:105,y:198,w:442,h:23},
{t:"Something interesting happened when my wife prayed for ",p:141,x:134,y:226,w:425,h:23},
{t:"a married couple on one occasion. Te husband was a quiet, ",p:141,x:105,y:253,w:457,h:23},
{t:"steady kind of person. Te wife had a more efervescent person-",p:141,x:105,y:281,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ality. Together they asked the Holy Spirit to food through every ",p:141,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"area of their lives—not to be confned, but to overfow. Ruth ",p:141,x:105,y:336,w:456,h:23},
{t:"then watched as the bubbly wife became silent before her Lord, ",p:141,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"while the quiet husband became outwardly joyful. ",p:141,x:105,y:391,w:358,h:23},
{t:"On another occasion, I prayed for a lady whose husband ",p:141,x:134,y:418,w:426,h:23},
{t:"wanted nothing to do with what we were doing. She received a ",p:141,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"quiet touch from God; he burst into tongues for the frst time ",p:141,x:105,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"in his life.",p:141,x:105,y:501,w:69,h:23},
{t:"You may speak in tongues, or you may not. You may have ",p:141,x:134,y:528,w:425,h:23},
{t:"a spectacular “crisis” encounter with God, or you may not. You ",p:141,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"may be visibly transformed, or you may remain externally much ",p:141,x:105,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the same. You may worship God by murmuring your love to ",p:141,x:105,y:611,w:456,h:23},
{t:"him in your own language, or you may fnd another language ",p:141,x:105,y:638,w:456,h:23},
{t:"replacing your own. Paul urges us not to put too much emphasis ",p:141,x:105,y:666,w:453,h:23},
{t:"in the wrong place (1 Corinthians 14:18–19). Don ’t get hung ",p:141,x:105,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"up on the experiences. God works diferently in each of us. Te ",p:141,x:105,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"common ground lies in the way he opens a doorway to a new ",p:141,x:105,y:748,w:455,h:23},
{t:"dimension of living. We are called to pursue what he gives us, ",p:141,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"not what he doesn ’t. We are called to journey with him as he ",p:141,x:105,y:803,w:456,h:23},
{t:"provides stepping stones from merely knowing about God to ",p:141,x:105,y:831,w:457,h:23},
{t:"truly knowing him at work in our lives.",p:141,x:105,y:858,w:278,h:23},
{t:"127",p:142,x:536,y:935,w:16,h:19},
{t:"SPIRIT -FILLED",p:142,x:467,y:64,w:78,h:21},
{t:"We have an enemy who will do everything in his power to ",p:142,x:135,y:116,w:425,h:23},
{t:"prevent this from happening. Satan tries to foster opposition ",p:142,x:105,y:143,w:457,h:23},
{t:"within us to the idea that we can actually know God rather than ",p:142,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"just intellectually know about him. Te ministry of the Holy ",p:142,x:105,y:198,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Spirit is to bring our hearts into a personal, intimate, vibrant, ",p:142,x:105,y:226,w:456,h:23},
{t:"unfolding relationship with God. Te task of our enemy is to ",p:142,x:105,y:253,w:456,h:23},
{t:"encourage us to always settle for second best. God wants us to ",p:142,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"be flled to overfowing with his Spirit, for those who have been ",p:142,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"emptied do need to be flled.",p:142,x:105,y:336,w:203,h:23},
{t:"Tis Holy Spirit, God himself, longs to be a living, exciting ",p:142,x:135,y:363,w:424,h:23},
{t:"reality in our lives—a real person, known and loved—and not ",p:142,x:105,y:391,w:455,h:23},
{t:"considered as some mere force out there. Tat may work for Star ",p:142,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Wars, but it is never sufcient for the crucifed life. For what ",p:142,x:105,y:446,w:456,h:23},
{t:"begins at the cross fnds its fullness in the Holy Spirit. ",p:142,x:105,y:473,w:384,h:23},
{t:"Prayer ",p:142,x:105,y:558,w:75,h:38},
{t:" Holy Spirit, would you strip me of my fear of ",p:142,x:194,y:565,w:366,h:28},
{t:"the unknown? Would you empty me of everything that does not ",p:142,x:105,y:596,w:454,h:23},
{t:"refect Jesus in my life? Reveal yourself within me in a way that I ",p:142,x:105,y:623,w:454,h:23},
{t:"have never known before. I want to go much, much deeper with ",p:142,x:105,y:651,w:454,h:23},
{t:"you. I want to sense a personal relationship connecting us. Please ",p:142,x:105,y:678,w:453,h:23},
{t:"fll my life with your Holy Spirit to overfowing so that I may ",p:142,x:105,y:706,w:456,h:23},
{t:"radiate the love of Jesus . . . again . . . and again . . . and again. ",p:142,x:105,y:733,w:455,h:23},
{t:"For the glory of Jesus, Amen. ",p:142,x:105,y:761,w:210,h:23},
{t:"129",p:143,x:536,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"CHAPTER ELEVEN",p:143,x:105,y:240,w:70,h:14},
{t:"Fruit",p:143,x:105,y:292,w:88,h:69},
{t:"FOR HIS GLORY",p:143,x:172,y:380,w:127,h:34},
{t:"Where the Jordan River empties into the Dead Sea ",p:143,x:165,y:489,w:395,h:69},
{t:"is the lowest place on earth. It is also bare, barren, ",p:143,x:204,y:529,w:355,h:23},
{t:"and empty. Te whole area is synonymous with salt. Tourists ",p:143,x:104,y:556,w:457,h:23},
{t:"descend on spas for baths and beauty treatments and the op-",p:143,x:104,y:584,w:449,h:23},
{t:"portunity to foat in the super-buoyant waters of the Dead Sea.",p:143,x:104,y:611,w:444,h:23},
{t:"One of my colleagues has an unusual claim to fame. Unaware ",p:143,x:134,y:639,w:423,h:23},
{t:"of the special properties of the water, he once took a running ",p:143,x:104,y:666,w:456,h:23},
{t:"dive into the Dead Sea. Fortunately he lived to tell the tale, but ",p:143,x:104,y:694,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the experience goes down as one of the least pleasant and most ",p:143,x:104,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"painful of his life.",p:143,x:104,y:749,w:124,h:23},
{t:"Driving into the Jordan Valley leads you toward Jericho, ",p:143,x:134,y:776,w:427,h:23},
{t:"considered by many to be the oldest city in the world. Today ",p:143,x:104,y:804,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Jericho is frmly under Palestinian control, but much of the pace ",p:143,x:104,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of life and the local activities are reminiscent of the days when ",p:143,x:104,y:859,w:455,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:144,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"130",p:144,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"the local chief tax collector, Zacchaeus, climbed into a tree to ",p:144,x:105,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"see Jesus.",p:144,x:105,y:143,w:63,h:23},
{t:"Today, as it has for centuries, a spring of water bubbles in ",p:144,x:134,y:171,w:425,h:23},
{t:"the heart of the city. It is the prime source of Jericho ’s natural ",p:144,x:105,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"beauty and fertility. Nearly three thousand years ago Elisha stood ",p:144,x:105,y:226,w:453,h:23},
{t:"at this very spring and confronted a major civic crisis. Some fve ",p:144,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"hundred years earlier the Israelites had entered the Promised ",p:144,x:105,y:281,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Land. Te frst city that God led them to capture, and destroy, ",p:144,x:105,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"was Jericho. As a way of demonstrating that the conquered land ",p:144,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"belonged to the Lord, Joshua pronounced a curse upon the ",p:144,x:105,y:363,w:458,h:23},
{t:"person who would attempt to rebuild Jericho (Joshua 6:26). Te ",p:144,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"city had recently been rebuilt, with difculty (1 King 16:34). ",p:144,x:105,y:418,w:456,h:23},
{t:"But apparently the water was still under Joshua ’s curse, causing ",p:144,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"both the land and the people much sufering. ",p:144,x:105,y:473,w:324,h:23},
{t:"Te citizens enjoyed living in a place famous for being “pleas-",p:144,x:134,y:501,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ant” or “well situated” (2 Kings 2:19). Te beauty was there to ",p:144,x:105,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"be admired, but it was always short-lived. Blossoms swiftly faded ",p:144,x:105,y:556,w:453,h:23},
{t:"and leaves fell. Young, tender shoots of wheat shriveled and died. ",p:144,x:105,y:583,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Just when it was about to ripen, the fruit dropped of the tree, ",p:144,x:105,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and the harvest that had so much potential came to nothing. ",p:144,x:105,y:638,w:456,h:23},
{t:"It was “Jericho fruit”; it never managed to live up to its initial ",p:144,x:105,y:666,w:456,h:23},
{t:"promise. Year after year the people of Jericho watched their ",p:144,x:105,y:693,w:458,h:23},
{t:"crops in the hope that this time something would be diferent. ",p:144,x:105,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Nothing changed. Every year the animals miscarried, the land ",p:144,x:105,y:748,w:456,h:23},
{t:"was unproductive, and the ground was barren—all because the ",p:144,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"water was polluted.",p:144,x:105,y:803,w:136,h:23},
{t:"Jericho had a serious problem that would not go away. Te ",p:144,x:134,y:831,w:425,h:23},
{t:"people were dependent on the water of their natural spring, but it ",p:144,x:105,y:858,w:453,h:23},
{t:"131",p:145,x:537,y:935,w:16,h:19},
{t:"FRUIT",p:145,x:519,y:64,w:31,h:21},
{t:"was corrupted. Elisha asked the people for a bowl flled with salt. ",p:145,x:105,y:116,w:453,h:23},
{t:"Ten he threw the salt into the spring and proclaimed, “Tis is ",p:145,x:105,y:143,w:455,h:23},
{t:"what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it ",p:145,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"cause death or make the land unproductive’” (2 Kings 2:20–21). ",p:145,x:105,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"At that moment God provided the solution, and the water was ",p:145,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"purifed (2 Kings 2:22). ",p:145,x:105,y:253,w:172,h:23},
{t:"Te miraculous efects upon the land resulting from this sin-",p:145,x:135,y:281,w:419,h:23},
{t:"gle event were enough to remove Joshua ’s curse and permanently ",p:145,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"transform a community. Tat water still remains pure today, and ",p:145,x:105,y:336,w:453,h:23},
{t:"lasting fruit is naturally produced. Where would Jericho be now ",p:145,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"if it had not been for the prophet, the salt, and an act of God?",p:145,x:105,y:391,w:437,h:23},
{t:"Living for H",p:145,x:213,y:442,w:128,h:30},
{t:"is Glory",p:145,x:356,y:442,w:90,h:30},
{t:"Talk of reversing curses and transforming communities may ",p:145,x:135,y:483,w:424,h:23},
{t:"sound well out of our league. It must have felt that way for Elisha ",p:145,x:105,y:510,w:453,h:23},
{t:"too. Te simple truth is that the living God does not want us to ",p:145,x:105,y:538,w:454,h:23},
{t:"attempt to do his work for him. What he does want, however, is ",p:145,x:105,y:565,w:454,h:23},
{t:"for us to allow him to work through us.",p:145,x:105,y:593,w:279,h:23},
{t:"When we as a congregation were grappling with the enor-",p:145,x:135,y:620,w:419,h:23},
{t:"mity of this concept, one of our pastors quietly pointed out that ",p:145,x:105,y:648,w:454,h:23},
{t:"this was not an attempt at self-aggrandizement or ego boosting, ",p:145,x:105,y:675,w:454,h:23},
{t:"but simply a desire to live for God’s glory. Was that not what he ",p:145,x:105,y:703,w:454,h:23},
{t:"always intended?",p:145,x:105,y:730,w:118,h:23},
{t:"Tis short, sharp dose of spiritual r eality was really help-",p:145,x:135,y:758,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ful. Tose words—“for his glory”—were a great reminder that ",p:145,x:105,y:785,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the real purpose the Lord Jesus has for us as sav ed sinners is ",p:145,x:105,y:813,w:454,h:23},
{t:"not just to preserve the freedom he won for us or to supply ",p:145,x:105,y:840,w:456,h:23},
{t:"us with every personal beneft or spiritual pr esent our hearts ",p:145,x:105,y:868,w:456,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:146,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"132",p:146,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"could desire. No, he wants to make us into world-changers. ",p:146,x:105,y:116,w:449,h:23},
{t:"He blesses us so that w e might become his means of bringing",p:146,x:105,y:143,w:443,h:23},
{t:"blessings to others. I n fact, the greatest miracle of all is that he ",p:146,x:105,y:171,w:448,h:23},
{t:"wants us to bless him in this way . Tis is a genuine two-way ",p:146,x:105,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"relationship!",p:146,x:105,y:226,w:87,h:23},
{t:"Christ ofered himself as a once-for-all sacrifce to cover our ",p:146,x:134,y:253,w:424,h:23},
{t:"sins. And now he wants us to become “living sacrifces” (Romans ",p:146,x:105,y:281,w:453,h:23},
{t:"12:1) and “a holy priesthood, ofering spiritual sacrifces accept-",p:146,x:105,y:308,w:449,h:23},
{t:"able to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). We are here to ",p:146,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"bear fruit for Jesus, bringing our sacrifces to the Lord. We can ",p:146,x:105,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"give back to him from what he has frst given to us. ",p:146,x:105,y:391,w:366,h:23},
{t:"What a purpose, what a privilege, and what a problem! We ",p:146,x:134,y:418,w:425,h:23},
{t:"might feel more comfortable with a God who receives from ",p:146,x:105,y:446,w:457,h:23},
{t:"us. Acts of self-sacrifce or human kindness are all very well, ",p:146,x:105,y:473,w:457,h:23},
{t:"because that is, after all, the nature of religion. Te heartbeat of ",p:146,x:105,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"authentic Christianity, however, is not these good works. Te ",p:146,x:105,y:528,w:456,h:23},
{t:"true Christian life has never consisted of what we do for God. It ",p:146,x:105,y:556,w:454,h:23},
{t:"has always been about what he does in us and through us. His ",p:146,x:105,y:583,w:455,h:23},
{t:"marvelous work in us can defy our human imagination.",p:146,x:105,y:611,w:393,h:23},
{t:"Te wonderful truth is that he comes to live and work in the ",p:146,x:134,y:638,w:424,h:23},
{t:"hearts and lives of very ordinary people.",p:146,x:105,y:666,w:281,h:23},
{t:"Jim is one of the most lovable characters you could ever ",p:146,x:134,y:693,w:427,h:23},
{t:"hope to meet. We call him the Energizer Bunny because, like the ",p:146,x:105,y:721,w:453,h:23},
{t:"advertising mascot for Energizer batteries, he never stops. Jim, ",p:146,x:105,y:748,w:456,h:23},
{t:"who is an elder in our church, has voluntarily decided to limit ",p:146,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"his work involvement to the level necessary for he and his wife, ",p:146,x:105,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Janice, to survive. He dedicates the rest of his time to the service ",p:146,x:105,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"133",p:147,x:535,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"FRUIT",p:147,x:519,y:64,w:31,h:21},
{t:"of Jesus. As a motivator, encourager, supporter, and friend, Jim ",p:147,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"has set an incredible example.",p:147,x:105,y:143,w:209,h:23},
{t:"A while back we learned that Jim ’s mother had died. Some ",p:147,x:135,y:171,w:425,h:23},
{t:"of us made the journey to the church where the funeral service ",p:147,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"was to take place. Tere were wonderful tributes paid to her ",p:147,x:105,y:226,w:457,h:23},
{t:"memory. Te major eulogy was given by a man who began by ",p:147,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"acknowledging his surprise at being asked—“because we all ",p:147,x:105,y:281,w:459,h:23},
{t:"know that Jim is the spiritual one in the family.”",p:147,x:105,y:308,w:340,h:23},
{t:"I was disappointed that Jim was not going to speak, because ",p:147,x:135,y:336,w:424,h:23},
{t:"I knew the truth of Jim ’s mom ’s last days. He and the family had ",p:147,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"given so much in love and care, but Jim had another gift in store ",p:147,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"for her. A few days before she died, Jim led his mother to give ",p:147,x:105,y:418,w:455,h:23},
{t:"her life to Jesus.",p:147,x:105,y:446,w:111,h:23},
{t:"After ffty-plus years of marriage, Jim ’s father took the loss of ",p:147,x:135,y:473,w:423,h:23},
{t:"his dear wife very hard. Again the family rallied together, giving ",p:147,x:105,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"him tremendous support.",p:147,x:105,y:528,w:180,h:23},
{t:"Only a few months later, we were all back in the same ",p:147,x:135,y:556,w:428,h:23},
{t:"church, this time to attend the funeral service for Jim ’s dad. Tis ",p:147,x:105,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"time Jim gave the eulogy. Jim eloquently thanked the family for ",p:147,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"all they had done. He expressed his gratitude to his father for a ",p:147,x:105,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"lifetime of love and support. Ten he gave thanks that he and ",p:147,x:105,y:666,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Janice had surrendered their lives to Jesus back in 1985. ",p:147,x:105,y:693,w:397,h:23},
{t:"You could have heard a pin drop. Jim spoke of introducing ",p:147,x:135,y:721,w:424,h:23},
{t:"his mom to Jesus shortly before she died. Ten he talked about ",p:147,x:105,y:748,w:455,h:23},
{t:"his dad’s last days. He shared what it had meant to tell his father ",p:147,x:105,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"about how his mother had found faith. Ten he spoke of how ",p:147,x:105,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"his dad had come to Jesus too.",p:147,x:105,y:831,w:214,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:148,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"134",p:148,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"When he concluded, the church erupted into spontaneous ",p:148,x:135,y:116,w:425,h:23},
{t:"applause. As I afrmed Jim afterwards, he quietly confessed that ",p:148,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"his father had made him promise that he would tell the story at ",p:148,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the funeral.",p:148,x:105,y:198,w:81,h:23},
{t:"More than twenty years of seemingly unfruitful witnessing ",p:148,x:135,y:226,w:425,h:23},
{t:"were culminated, at the end, with the dawning knowledge that ",p:148,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"God was at work in the lives of Jim ’s parents. Together they will ",p:148,x:105,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"share eternity. Te lives of Jim and Janice certainly produced ",p:148,x:105,y:308,w:457,h:23},
{t:"late, great fruit.",p:148,x:105,y:336,w:108,h:23},
{t:"Fruit-Bearing for Beginners",p:148,x:172,y:387,w:284,h:30},
{t:"Our fruit-bearing introduces questions that must be asked, ",p:148,x:135,y:428,w:425,h:23},
{t:"questions such as What kind of fruit am I producing—and how ",p:148,x:105,y:455,w:455,h:23},
{t:"much is it worth? If I am brutally honest with myself, I would ",p:148,x:105,y:483,w:456,h:23},
{t:"have to confess that too much of what I have to give is con-",p:148,x:105,y:510,w:449,h:23},
{t:"taminated “Jericho fruit.” For many people, the fruitfulness that ",p:148,x:105,y:538,w:454,h:23},
{t:"appears to be just around the corner never emerges. Sometimes ",p:148,x:105,y:565,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the fruit is just late in arriving. ",p:148,x:105,y:593,w:220,h:23},
{t:"When those looking in from the outside see the blossom, ",p:148,x:135,y:620,w:426,h:23},
{t:"they predict fruit. Tey can see the potential, but they don ’t real-",p:148,x:105,y:648,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ize that the life-source, the water, has been corrupted, because ",p:148,x:105,y:675,w:456,h:23},
{t:"we have placed our own eforts before what God can do. Too ",p:148,x:105,y:703,w:456,h:23},
{t:"often it is my glory, not his glory, that is viewed in operation.",p:148,x:105,y:730,w:431,h:23},
{t:"We assume that our abilities provide the life-source that God ",p:148,x:135,y:758,w:423,h:23},
{t:"requires. Instead, we need the reality check of a forgotten truth: ",p:148,x:105,y:785,w:454,h:23},
{t:"It is the God of peace alone who can “equip you with everything ",p:148,x:105,y:813,w:454,h:23},
{t:"good for doing his will” and “work in us what is pleasing to ",p:148,x:105,y:840,w:457,h:23},
{t:"him, through Jesus Christ” (Hebrews 13:20–21). God wants to ",p:148,x:105,y:868,w:455,h:23},
{t:"135",p:149,x:536,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"FRUIT",p:149,x:519,y:64,w:31,h:21},
{t:"be the source. Too often we fall into the trap of believing that ",p:149,x:105,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"he expects us to produce fruit on our own, so we mobilize all ",p:149,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"our eforts to achieve that objective. How dreadfully sad and ",p:149,x:105,y:171,w:457,h:23},
{t:"unnecessary!",p:149,x:105,y:198,w:88,h:23},
{t:"Have you ever driven past an orchard? As you gaze on rows ",p:149,x:135,y:226,w:424,h:23},
{t:"of carefully cultivated fruit trees, do you see frst one row and ",p:149,x:105,y:253,w:456,h:23},
{t:"then another groaning and straining to produce fruit? Of course ",p:149,x:105,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"not. Try to imagine trunks, branches, and blossoms of each tree ",p:149,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"struggling to produce what it was created to do. Te idea may ",p:149,x:105,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"seem ridiculous, but no more so than faithful Christians trying ",p:149,x:105,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to manufacture what a loving God wants to produce within ",p:149,x:105,y:391,w:457,h:23},
{t:"them. A fruit tree, properly cared for, will efortlessly produce ",p:149,x:105,y:418,w:456,h:23},
{t:"fruit. When we evade God’s natural work in us and resort to ",p:149,x:105,y:446,w:456,h:23},
{t:"human efort, we end up with bitter disappointment coupled ",p:149,x:105,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"with a reluctance to admit how little fruit we have produced in ",p:149,x:105,y:501,w:455,h:23},
{t:"our hearts and lives.",p:149,x:105,y:528,w:141,h:23},
{t:"Tis picture may be too accurate for comfort. Sincere ",p:149,x:135,y:556,w:430,h:23},
{t:"Christians endure the heartbreak of watching spiritual fruit ",p:149,x:105,y:583,w:459,h:23},
{t:"grow in their lives until, just as it is about to ripen and fulfll the ",p:149,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"purpose for which it was created, the fruit falls to the ground ",p:149,x:105,y:638,w:456,h:23},
{t:"before its time. Te problem is not that we grew the wrong kind ",p:149,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of fruit. Apple trees do not produce bananas without a major ",p:149,x:105,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"genetic change. Te problem is the absence of our longing to ",p:149,x:105,y:721,w:456,h:23},
{t:"present a life lived for his glory alone. Ian Tomas observed, ",p:149,x:105,y:748,w:457,h:23},
{t:"“Te fruit that has appeared to others has fallen—oh, so often, ",p:149,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"so cruelly often—to the ground—premature, immature—only ",p:149,x:105,y:803,w:456,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:150,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"136",p:150,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"to rot and never to reproduce.”1 Sure, we know what we should ",p:150,x:105,y:116,w:454,h:23},
{t:"be. We know what we want to be. We know the Christian lan-",p:150,x:104,y:143,w:449,h:23},
{t:"guage, and we speak it well. But somehow we never achieve what ",p:150,x:104,y:171,w:453,h:23},
{t:"we long to be. ",p:150,x:104,y:198,w:104,h:23},
{t:"Tis lack of achievement is not hypocrisy; it is spiritual fail-",p:150,x:134,y:226,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ure. What fruit we do produce can too frequently be immature ",p:150,x:104,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and without seed, incapable of reproducing. Sad to say, many of ",p:150,x:104,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"us can fnd this state of afairs pretty easy to apply to ourselves. ",p:150,x:104,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"We live with a lurking sense of doubt that we can ever become all ",p:150,x:104,y:336,w:453,h:23},
{t:"that the Lord Jesus intended us to be. We have failed, and now ",p:150,x:104,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"we are simply tired. ",p:150,x:104,y:391,w:142,h:23},
{t:"But that is only our side of the story.",p:150,x:134,y:418,w:258,h:23},
{t:"Decoration or D",p:150,x:207,y:469,w:170,h:30},
{t:"eath?",p:150,x:395,y:469,w:51,h:30},
{t:"Back in the 1970s I decided, like many other people, to wear ",p:150,x:135,y:510,w:423,h:23},
{t:"a cross around my neck. I didn ’t want to wear a crucifx, since ",p:150,x:105,y:538,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Jesus is no longer on the cross. So I chose a large silver cross and ",p:150,x:105,y:565,w:454,h:23},
{t:"wore it outside of my shirt or sweater where it was visible. I saw ",p:150,x:105,y:593,w:454,h:23},
{t:"it as a constant reminder that my life had been bought with a ",p:150,x:105,y:620,w:456,h:23},
{t:"price.",p:150,x:105,y:648,w:39,h:23},
{t:"Alan, a businessman in the clothing industry, really admired ",p:150,x:135,y:675,w:424,h:23},
{t:"my cross. So I wasn ’t surprised when one day he proudly displayed ",p:150,x:105,y:703,w:452,h:23},
{t:"his own equally large and visible cross. Because he felt Jesus’ ",p:150,x:105,y:730,w:457,h:23},
{t:"cross was immeasurably too valuable for silver, Alan purchased ",p:150,x:105,y:758,w:455,h:23},
{t:"his cross in gold. He wanted to afrm the incredible value of the ",p:150,x:105,y:785,w:454,h:23},
{t:"single most signifcant act in the whole of human history: the ",p:150,x:105,y:813,w:456,h:23},
{t:"1.",p:150,x:105,y:866,w:11,h:19},
{t:"W. Ian Tomas, Te Saving Life of Christ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, ",p:150,x:126,y:866,w:402,h:19},
{t:"1988), 30 (italics in original).",p:150,x:105,y:886,w:170,h:19},
{t:"137",p:151,x:536,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"FRUIT",p:151,x:519,y:64,w:31,h:21},
{t:"death of Jesus Christ on a cross—the purchase price God paid ",p:151,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to buy Alan back for himself. He also reasoned that a gold cross ",p:151,x:105,y:143,w:454,h:23},
{t:"symbolized the doorway to a future crown of gold.",p:151,x:105,y:171,w:357,h:23},
{t:"Wearing a cross is like wearing a wedding ring: both make ",p:151,x:135,y:198,w:425,h:23},
{t:"statements that need to be backed up by a lifestyle. Alan was ",p:151,x:105,y:226,w:456,h:23},
{t:"asked a lot of questions about his cross, which gave him great ",p:151,x:105,y:253,w:456,h:23},
{t:"opportunities to share his love for Jesus. At the same, however, I ",p:151,x:105,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with my own cross. I ",p:151,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"eventually laid the silver cross aside and purchased a wooden one ",p:151,x:105,y:336,w:453,h:23},
{t:"instead. I knew that I, along with many others, was beginning ",p:151,x:105,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"to take the cross for granted. It had become a nominal statement ",p:151,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of a genuine faith.",p:151,x:105,y:418,w:128,h:23},
{t:"We know that Aaron ’s staf produced “fruit” (buds, blos-",p:151,x:135,y:446,w:419,h:23},
{t:"soms, and almonds), much to the consternation of the Israelites ",p:151,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"(Numbers 17:1–13). To understand the cross of Jesus as the ",p:151,x:105,y:501,w:457,h:23},
{t:"means to produce spiritual fruit may likewise seem bizarre. Yet ",p:151,x:105,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Jesus insists that we are here to bear fruit, not through our own ",p:151,x:105,y:556,w:454,h:23},
{t:"eforts, but through his life in us (John 15:1–5). We are to be ",p:151,x:105,y:583,w:456,h:23},
{t:"like a tree planted by streams of water, delighting in God and ",p:151,x:105,y:611,w:456,h:23},
{t:"meditating on his truth; we draw nourishment from outside ",p:151,x:105,y:638,w:457,h:23},
{t:"ourselves so all that we do prospers because of God’s grace in us ",p:151,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"(Psalm 1:1–3). Tis is possible because of the cross, making the ",p:151,x:105,y:693,w:454,h:23},
{t:"message of the cross not just good news, but great news!",p:151,x:105,y:721,w:395,h:23},
{t:"For one grain of wheat to generate more grains, the seed ",p:151,x:135,y:748,w:426,h:23},
{t:"must die so that others might live. Te famed British preacher, ",p:151,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Alan Redpath, used to ask the scorching question, “Tell me in ",p:151,x:105,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the light of the cross, isn ’t it a scandal that you and I live today ",p:151,x:105,y:831,w:455,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:152,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"138",p:152,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"as we do?”2 Te cross of Christ and the crucifed life that it ",p:152,x:105,y:116,w:457,h:23},
{t:"engenders in me are more about the fruit-bearing that results ",p:152,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"than about anything I may receive. And when we see the results ",p:152,x:105,y:171,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of that cross—both in us and through us—our hearts can break ",p:152,x:105,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"out in a song of surprise, echoing the words of the hymn writer ",p:152,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"who discovered that",p:152,x:105,y:253,w:141,h:23},
{t:"Bearing shame and scofng rude, ",p:152,x:134,y:288,w:239,h:23},
{t:"In my place condemned He stood; ",p:152,x:134,y:316,w:249,h:23},
{t:"Sealed my pardon with His blood. ",p:152,x:134,y:343,w:247,h:23},
{t:"Hallelujah! What a Savior!",p:152,x:134,y:371,w:186,h:23},
{t:"(“‘Man of Sorrows,’ What a Name,”",p:152,x:271,y:406,w:253,h:23},
{t:" by Philip P. Bliss)",p:152,x:397,y:433,w:127,h:23},
{t:"Perhaps we have a natural modesty, or perhaps we have a ",p:152,x:134,y:468,w:426,h:23},
{t:"natural failure to understand the incredible diference that a life ",p:152,x:105,y:496,w:454,h:23},
{t:"can make when lived “in Jesus.” But either way we are too often ",p:152,x:105,y:523,w:454,h:23},
{t:"guilty of minimizing the impact that our lives could bring to our ",p:152,x:105,y:551,w:453,h:23},
{t:"community, the fruit we could produce for his glory. When we ",p:152,x:105,y:578,w:455,h:23},
{t:"transfer our lives to Jesus, there can be amazing results. ",p:152,x:105,y:606,w:391,h:23},
{t:"When the religious leaders of the day saw the courage of ",p:152,x:134,y:633,w:426,h:23},
{t:"Peter and John and the confdent way they shared their faith, ",p:152,x:105,y:661,w:456,h:23},
{t:"they recognized that these men had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). ",p:152,x:105,y:688,w:454,h:23},
{t:"We, too, can be diferent. And what then if we are?",p:152,x:105,y:716,w:359,h:23},
{t:"Only what we ofer to God that comes from Jesus can have ",p:152,x:134,y:743,w:424,h:23},
{t:"permanent value. Te presence of Jesus is the antidote to “Jericho ",p:152,x:105,y:771,w:453,h:23},
{t:"fruit.” Tat which emanates from Jesus at work in us has eternal ",p:152,x:105,y:798,w:454,h:23},
{t:"2.",p:152,x:105,y:866,w:11,h:19},
{t:" Alan Redpath, quoted in Leonard Ravenhill, Why Revival Tarries",p:152,x:123,y:866,w:376,h:19},
{t:"(Minneapolis: Bethany, 1987), 56.",p:152,x:105,y:886,w:199,h:19},
{t:"139",p:153,x:535,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"FRUIT",p:153,x:519,y:64,w:31,h:21},
{t:"value. When he lives and operates through us, we will act as ",p:153,x:105,y:116,w:457,h:23},
{t:"“salt”: providing both favoring and preservation in our world. ",p:153,x:105,y:143,w:456,h:23},
{t:"And this saltiness will last (Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50).",p:153,x:105,y:171,w:386,h:23},
{t:"So was the problem with Jericho an absence of water? No. ",p:153,x:135,y:198,w:425,h:23},
{t:"Te people had their spring, but it produced the wrong kind of ",p:153,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"water. If our fruit is substandard, the same is never true of what ",p:153,x:105,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Jesus brings to birth in us. When we learn to depend on his work ",p:153,x:105,y:281,w:453,h:23},
{t:"in us for our fruitfulness, rather than on our own eforts on his ",p:153,x:105,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"behalf, the diference is amazing. Te good news is that the Lord ",p:153,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Jesus promised that if we remain in him we will be fruitful; and ",p:153,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"just as a branch draws its nourishment and strength from a vine, ",p:153,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"so we can receive all that we need from him (John 15:4). Like a ",p:153,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"tree planted along a riverbank, we will have plenty of water to ",p:153,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"draw from, and we will never fail to deliver good fruit (Psalm ",p:153,x:105,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"1:3). ",p:153,x:105,y:501,w:37,h:23},
{t:"Jesus pointed out that people can be recognized for who ",p:153,x:135,y:528,w:427,h:23},
{t:"they are by the fruit they bear (Matthew 7:15–20). We may not ",p:153,x:105,y:556,w:454,h:23},
{t:"be responsible for the lives of others, but we are clearly account-",p:153,x:105,y:583,w:449,h:23},
{t:"able for our own. A healthy apple tree does not produce stunted ",p:153,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"apples. We have no excuse for producing bitter fruit or no fruit at ",p:153,x:105,y:638,w:453,h:23},
{t:"all. When Jesus is allowed to live in and through us we discover ",p:153,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"a God who still generates earthquakes today. ",p:153,x:105,y:693,w:317,h:23},
{t:"Prayer ",p:153,x:105,y:778,w:75,h:38},
{t:" Lord, I am beginning to recognize that what this ",p:153,x:193,y:785,w:366,h:28},
{t:"world needs is more of what you can give rather than what I can ",p:153,x:105,y:815,w:455,h:22},
{t:"provide. I am sick and tired of bearing fruit that is not pleasing to ",p:153,x:105,y:842,w:454,h:22},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:154,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"140",p:154,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"you or that interferes with the work you want to do in me. May I ",p:154,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:22},
{t:"decrease so that you can increase and bear fruit for eternity. In Jesus, ",p:154,x:105,y:142,w:453,h:22},
{t:"Amen.",p:154,x:105,y:170,w:45,h:22},
{t:"141",p:155,x:537,y:935,w:16,h:19},
{t:"CHAPTER TWEL",p:155,x:105,y:240,w:63,h:14},
{t:"VE",p:155,x:216,y:240,w:10,h:14},
{t:"Destiny",p:155,x:105,y:292,w:139,h:69},
{t:"DON' T WASTE YOUR LIFE",p:155,x:172,y:380,w:218,h:34},
{t:"She was weeping, and she was slowly dying. Te ",p:155,x:165,y:489,w:398,h:69},
{t:"tubercular cough that wracked her body signaled ",p:155,x:190,y:529,w:372,h:23},
{t:"that there wasn ’t much time left—perhaps two or three years at ",p:155,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the most—and then she would be gone. Looking at her there in ",p:155,x:105,y:584,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the squalid hut she called home, I thought she would do well to ",p:155,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"survive for that long.",p:155,x:105,y:639,w:147,h:23},
{t:"As her face contorted in pain again, Jennifer coughed and ",p:155,x:134,y:666,w:426,h:23},
{t:"coughed. Her body was so emaciated that she resembled a con-",p:155,x:105,y:694,w:449,h:23},
{t:"centration camp victim. Her black skin seemed to have withered ",p:155,x:105,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"during her illness. She just seemed so incredibly fragile.",p:155,x:105,y:749,w:389,h:23},
{t:"We were near Nairobi, in Ongata Rongai: one of Kenya ’s ",p:155,x:134,y:776,w:426,h:23},
{t:"largest slums. Here the sights and sounds of dying people were ",p:155,x:105,y:804,w:455,h:23},
{t:"not unusual. As the lines of little huts stretched for miles into ",p:155,x:105,y:831,w:456,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:156,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"142",p:156,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"the distance, the pall of death hung permanently in the air above ",p:156,x:105,y:116,w:453,h:23},
{t:"them.",p:156,x:105,y:143,w:41,h:23},
{t:"Jennifer, however, was diferent. Despite all her sufering, she ",p:156,x:134,y:171,w:423,h:23},
{t:"retained vivacity and a sense of joy that went way beyond raw ",p:156,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"courage. As we sat together on the mud foor, Jennifer started ",p:156,x:105,y:226,w:456,h:23},
{t:"to tell me her story. She had been brought up going to church, ",p:156,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"though her belief in Jesus was contained more in her mind than ",p:156,x:105,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"in her heart. She lived pretty much the same way as everyone ",p:156,x:105,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"else, but she reckoned that was acceptable since she had Jesus.",p:156,x:105,y:336,w:435,h:23},
{t:"Time passed, and as a young adult Jennifer looked for a ",p:156,x:134,y:363,w:427,h:23},
{t:"husband. She found one in the church. Eight years later there ",p:156,x:105,y:391,w:456,h:23},
{t:"were still no children. Within the African culture, barrenness ",p:156,x:105,y:418,w:457,h:23},
{t:"represented disaster; and Jennifer’s marriage ended in divorce. ",p:156,x:105,y:446,w:456,h:23},
{t:"From a spiritual viewpoint, she felt that was all right. After all, ",p:156,x:105,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"she still went to church.",p:156,x:105,y:501,w:168,h:23},
{t:"Te next chapter of Jennifer’s life involved economic hard-",p:156,x:134,y:528,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ship, and she turned to prostitution to survive. Tree children ",p:156,x:105,y:556,w:456,h:23},
{t:"were born as the result of one liaison after another. She is un-",p:156,x:105,y:583,w:449,h:23},
{t:"able to tell any of them the identity of their father. Jennifer’s ",p:156,x:105,y:611,w:456,h:23},
{t:"downward spiral fnally reached the bottom with her arrival at ",p:156,x:105,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Ongata Rongai. Tere, girls sold their bodies for twenty-fve to ",p:156,x:105,y:666,w:455,h:23},
{t:"thirty cents a time.",p:156,x:105,y:693,w:133,h:23},
{t:"As she related her sad saga, Jennifer wept. Troughout this ",p:156,x:134,y:721,w:425,h:23},
{t:"period of her life, she continued to go to church and to believe ",p:156,x:105,y:748,w:455,h:23},
{t:"in Jesus. Jennifer confessed, through her tears, that her belief was ",p:156,x:105,y:776,w:453,h:23},
{t:"academic rather than life-transforming—and therefore nothing ",p:156,x:105,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"changed for her. Tat is, until the fateful day of the HIV test. ",p:156,x:105,y:831,w:456,h:23},
{t:"143",p:157,x:535,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"DESTINY",p:157,x:503,y:64,w:44,h:21},
{t:"After an extreme bout of illness, she discovered that she was ",p:157,x:104,y:116,w:457,h:23},
{t:"living with AIDS. ",p:157,x:104,y:143,w:130,h:23},
{t:"Finally faced with the truth of where her life had brought ",p:157,x:134,y:171,w:426,h:23},
{t:"her, Jennifer realized that going to church was not enough. It ",p:157,x:104,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"was during those days of personal agony, realizing that her time ",p:157,x:104,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"on earth was so limited, that at last she surrendered her life to ",p:157,x:104,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Jesus Christ. Now she weeps, not because she has found Jesus, ",p:157,x:104,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"but for the wasted years. In her head, Jennifer had known that ",p:157,x:104,y:308,w:455,h:23},
{t:"this Jesus was “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6), ",p:157,x:104,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"but she had never allowed him to bring to her that life, truth, ",p:157,x:104,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and direction.",p:157,x:104,y:391,w:98,h:23},
{t:"In her surrender, Jesus brought Jennifer life-changing power, ",p:157,x:134,y:418,w:423,h:23},
{t:"and she could not wait to tell others about him. She just natu-",p:157,x:104,y:446,w:449,h:23},
{t:"rally radiates an infectious sense of joy. It is not surprising that ",p:157,x:104,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"this lady uses every available moment to share her love for Jesus ",p:157,x:104,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"with her neighbors, hoping that they will surrender their destiny ",p:157,x:104,y:528,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to him too. ",p:157,x:104,y:556,w:84,h:23},
{t:"Again the tubercular cough wracked her frail body. Te tears ",p:157,x:134,y:583,w:423,h:23},
{t:"fowed freely as she pleaded with me to carry her message to the ",p:157,x:104,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"church in the Western world: “Please tell my brothers and sisters ",p:157,x:104,y:638,w:454,h:23},
{t:"not to live as I did; please tell them not to waste their lives.” ",p:157,x:104,y:666,w:456,h:23},
{t:"She warns that we should give our lives to Jesus when we are ",p:157,x:104,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"healthy, not when we are sick, so that the best days of our lives ",p:157,x:104,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"may be lived for him. God has a special purpose for each of his ",p:157,x:104,y:748,w:455,h:23},
{t:"children.",p:157,x:104,y:776,w:62,h:23},
{t:"Jennifer longs that we might learn from her mistakes. In her ",p:157,x:134,y:803,w:424,h:23},
{t:"own case, she is so sorry that all she can give to the Lord are the ",p:157,x:104,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:158,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"144",p:158,x:105,y:935,w:18,h:19},
{t:"shattered fragments of a broken life. Yet God can still use broken ",p:158,x:105,y:116,w:453,h:23},
{t:"fragments. And soon she will be home.",p:158,x:105,y:143,w:275,h:23},
{t:"Forgiv eness . . . for",p:158,x:222,y:194,w:198,h:30},
{t:"Today and Tomorrow",p:158,x:209,y:221,w:241,h:30},
{t:"Tis depth of self-examination is unpleasant and real. Many ",p:158,x:135,y:262,w:424,h:23},
{t:"of us would be uncomfortable if others were intimately aware ",p:158,x:105,y:289,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of our past—and perhaps even of who we are today. Although ",p:158,x:105,y:317,w:455,h:23},
{t:"we may not be able to relate to what Jennifer experienced, we ",p:158,x:105,y:344,w:456,h:23},
{t:"still know the realities of sin and personal failure. One of the ",p:158,x:105,y:372,w:456,h:23},
{t:"great agonies of life is disappointment with ourselves. A personal ",p:158,x:105,y:399,w:453,h:23},
{t:"inventory of past choices may only deepen our sense of regret ",p:158,x:105,y:427,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and increase our yearning for true forgiveness.",p:158,x:105,y:454,w:324,h:23},
{t:"It is one thing for us to know—in theory—that the crucifed ",p:158,x:135,y:482,w:423,h:23},
{t:"love of Jesus brings his forgiveness to our lives. But what does ",p:158,x:105,y:509,w:456,h:23},
{t:"that mean? Is it similar to the way a parent ofers forgiveness ",p:158,x:105,y:537,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and reconciliation to a child, while retaining knowledge of that ",p:158,x:105,y:564,w:455,h:23},
{t:"child’s true nature? Or is it more than that?",p:158,x:105,y:592,w:304,h:23},
{t:"Te Bible assures us that God is totally aware of what we are ",p:158,x:135,y:619,w:424,h:23},
{t:"really like. He inspired the apostle Paul to write to the believers ",p:158,x:105,y:647,w:454,h:23},
{t:"in Ephesus, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions ",p:158,x:105,y:674,w:456,h:23},
{t:"and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). However, he also made the ultimate ",p:158,x:105,y:702,w:455,h:23},
{t:"sacrifce in order to deliver to us this glorious possibility: “When ",p:158,x:105,y:729,w:454,h:23},
{t:"you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your ",p:158,x:105,y:757,w:456,h:23},
{t:"sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ” (Colossians ",p:158,x:105,y:784,w:458,h:23},
{t:"2:13).",p:158,x:105,y:812,w:42,h:23},
{t:"Ten God takes it one step further: “He forgave us all our ",p:158,x:135,y:839,w:425,h:23},
{t:"sins” (Colossians 2:13). Tis incredible truth is woven through ",p:158,x:105,y:867,w:455,h:23},
{t:"145",p:159,x:535,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"DESTINY",p:159,x:503,y:64,w:44,h:21},
{t:"the whole fabric of the good news that Jesus brought. It was part ",p:159,x:104,y:116,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of",p:159,x:104,y:143,w:14,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:159,x:134,y:178,w:11,h:23},
{t:"God’s character (Psalm 103:1–3; 130:3–4).",p:159,x:164,y:178,w:304,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:159,x:134,y:206,w:11,h:23},
{t:"John ’s preparation for Jesus (Luke 3:1–3).",p:159,x:164,y:206,w:293,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:159,x:134,y:233,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Te teachings of Jesus (Matthew 6:14).",p:159,x:164,y:233,w:276,h:23},
{t:"•	",p:159,x:134,y:261,w:11,h:23},
{t:"Te message of the church (Acts 2:36–38).",p:159,x:164,y:261,w:302,h:23},
{t:"Tose frst-century Christians had confdence in the absolute ",p:159,x:134,y:296,w:423,h:23},
{t:"truth of divine forgiveness. Tey knew that this came from Jesus ",p:159,x:104,y:323,w:454,h:23},
{t:"(Acts 5:31), in Jesus (Ephesians 1:7), and through Jesus (Acts ",p:159,x:104,y:351,w:457,h:23},
{t:"13:38).",p:159,x:104,y:378,w:51,h:23},
{t:"A Case of D ivine Amnesia",p:159,x:183,y:429,w:278,h:30},
{t:"Te blood of Jesus achieved the possibility and potential for ",p:159,x:135,y:470,w:424,h:23},
{t:"forgiveness (Hebrews 9:11–22). Tis promised gift did not relate ",p:159,x:105,y:498,w:453,h:23},
{t:"to forgiveness for Christ",p:159,x:105,y:525,w:171,h:23},
{t:"’s sins, because there weren ’t any. Jesus’ ",p:159,x:275,y:525,w:285,h:23},
{t:"promise was that his sacrifce would bring forgiveness for your ",p:159,x:105,y:553,w:455,h:23},
{t:"sins and my sins! Jesus rose from the dead and defeated death—",p:159,x:105,y:580,w:450,h:23},
{t:"the ultimate enemy—so that, as poor mortals dead in our sins, ",p:159,x:105,y:608,w:455,h:23},
{t:"we could rise too. ",p:159,x:105,y:635,w:128,h:23},
{t:"Tis is the incredible wonder of the forgiveness that Jesus ",p:159,x:135,y:663,w:426,h:23},
{t:"brings. But there is still more! God does not pretend that we ",p:159,x:105,y:690,w:456,h:23},
{t:"have never sinned, nor will he ignore our guilt. However, he does ",p:159,x:105,y:718,w:453,h:23},
{t:"not want us to dwell on our sins. When our sin is confessed to ",p:159,x:105,y:745,w:455,h:23},
{t:"God, appropriate restitution is made where necessary; and then ",p:159,x:105,y:773,w:454,h:23},
{t:"he remembers our sins no more (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:12; ",p:159,x:105,y:800,w:454,h:23},
{t:"10:17). Tose two little words—“no more”—cover a huge range ",p:159,x:105,y:828,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of history and geography. God’s Word tells us that our sins are ",p:159,x:105,y:855,w:455,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:160,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"146",p:160,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"washed clean (Isaiah 1:18), thrown into the depths of the sea ",p:160,x:105,y:116,w:456,h:23},
{t:"(Micah 7:19), and put behind God’s back (Isaiah 38:17).",p:160,x:105,y:143,w:402,h:23},
{t:"Since this is God’s perspective of our sins, how should we ",p:160,x:134,y:171,w:426,h:23},
{t:"regard them? If we neglect the freedom and forgiveness that he ",p:160,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"ofers us, then we ignore the power of the blood of Jesus given ",p:160,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"for us on the cross. Indeed, we could say that we almost abuse ",p:160,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Christ’s sacrifce. Scripture says, “If we confess our sins, he is ",p:160,x:105,y:281,w:456,h:23},
{t:"faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from ",p:160,x:105,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Tat’s the condition for God’s ",p:160,x:105,y:336,w:454,h:23},
{t:"choice of amnesia. Te blood of Jesus has made us to be just as ",p:160,x:105,y:363,w:455,h:23},
{t:"if we had never sinned. Te price for our sins has been paid; and ",p:160,x:105,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"when God forgives, God forgets.",p:160,x:105,y:418,w:231,h:23},
{t:"We have no right to try to remember that which God has ",p:160,x:134,y:446,w:425,h:23},
{t:"forgotten. Tink deeply about this. We often embrace our guilt ",p:160,x:105,y:473,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and the memory of our sins, but that is not what God wants us ",p:160,x:105,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to remember. For having been forgiven by our Lord, he wants ",p:160,x:105,y:528,w:455,h:23},
{t:"us to forgive ourselves—and move on. Like Tomas, Peter, and ",p:160,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Moses, we have encountered a God who uniquely provides us ",p:160,x:105,y:583,w:456,h:23},
{t:"with a second chance. He gives us the opportunity to realize that ",p:160,x:105,y:611,w:454,h:23},
{t:"we are forgiven and to start again. We are not just free to live a ",p:160,x:105,y:638,w:455,h:23},
{t:"new life; we have a responsibility to appropriate this new life and ",p:160,x:105,y:666,w:453,h:23},
{t:"to live in a new direction.",p:160,x:105,y:693,w:180,h:23},
{t:"Live Beneath the C",p:160,x:200,y:744,w:197,h:30},
{t:"ross",p:160,x:416,y:744,w:41,h:30},
{t:"Does that mean there is no further judgment on our lives? ",p:160,x:135,y:785,w:425,h:23},
{t:"Having now crossed over from death to life, are we absolved ",p:160,x:105,y:813,w:457,h:23},
{t:"from any responsibility for our conduct here on earth? Now that ",p:160,x:105,y:840,w:453,h:23},
{t:"we are living with the privilege of God’s magnifcent forgiveness, ",p:160,x:105,y:868,w:454,h:23},
{t:"147",p:161,x:536,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"DESTINY",p:161,x:503,y:64,w:44,h:21},
{t:"is there no assessment of how we employ those gifts and graces ",p:161,x:104,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"that God has so freely entrusted to us?",p:161,x:104,y:143,w:269,h:23},
{t:"Jesus told simple stories about rulers and businessmen who ",p:161,x:134,y:171,w:425,h:23},
{t:"traveled away from home but assigned their servants the task of ",p:161,x:104,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"maximizing the capital resources left with them. Accountability ",p:161,x:104,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"was built into the arrangement. Each was expected to invest and ",p:161,x:104,y:253,w:454,h:23},
{t:"increase what he received (Matthew 25:14–30; Luke 19:11–27). ",p:161,x:104,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"One failed to do so. He just hid what was entrusted to him, and ",p:161,x:104,y:308,w:454,h:23},
{t:"consequently he was condemned for his laziness, fear, and lack ",p:161,x:104,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"of initiative.",p:161,x:104,y:363,w:85,h:23},
{t:"Should we think that the Master would expect any less ",p:161,x:134,y:391,w:428,h:23},
{t:"from his faithful servants today—once we have viewed the cross ",p:161,x:104,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"of Jesus? Once we have been introduced to the reality of the ",p:161,x:104,y:446,w:457,h:23},
{t:"crucifed life? Once we have understood the implications of ",p:161,x:104,y:473,w:458,h:23},
{t:"exchanging our lives for his?",p:161,x:104,y:501,w:198,h:23},
{t:"When we have come to this point, then each of us must ",p:161,x:134,y:528,w:426,h:23},
{t:"face the big question: How are we to live? How do we fulfll the ",p:161,x:104,y:556,w:454,h:23},
{t:"glorious purpose that God has for our lives?",p:161,x:104,y:583,w:308,h:23},
{t:"A couple of years ago, Ruth and I closed a chapter of our ",p:161,x:134,y:611,w:426,h:23},
{t:"lives. We proudly watched as our youngest child graduated from ",p:161,x:104,y:638,w:454,h:23},
{t:"seminary—and we knew that the era of school expenses was ",p:161,x:104,y:666,w:457,h:23},
{t:"over! Tis was a great moment for Suzy: graduating and then ",p:161,x:104,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"beginning a position as worship leader at a Baptist church in ",p:161,x:104,y:721,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Wisconsin. ",p:161,x:104,y:748,w:83,h:23},
{t:"Te chapel at the London School of Teology was too small ",p:161,x:134,y:776,w:424,h:23},
{t:"to accommodate the graduation ceremony. A nearby church, ",p:161,x:104,y:803,w:457,h:23},
{t:"Soul Survivor, was meeting in a large converted gymnasium and ",p:161,x:104,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"allowed the seminary to use its facility for the occasion.",p:161,x:104,y:858,w:389,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:162,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"148",p:162,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"Te retired Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. George Carey, ",p:162,x:135,y:116,w:426,h:23},
{t:"presented the academic achievement awards. Before fulflling ",p:162,x:105,y:143,w:457,h:23},
{t:"this duty, he was invited to take two or three minutes to make ",p:162,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"some comments. Another speaker would subsequently deliver ",p:162,x:105,y:198,w:457,h:23},
{t:"the formal address, which he did quite well. It is Dr. Carey’s ",p:162,x:105,y:226,w:457,h:23},
{t:"comments, however, that will remain etched in my memory.",p:162,x:105,y:253,w:425,h:23},
{t:"He quietly stood at the podium placed in the front of this ",p:162,x:135,y:281,w:425,h:23},
{t:"vast gymnasium. Tere were no stained glass windows and no ",p:162,x:105,y:308,w:456,h:23},
{t:"altar, just a simple wooden cross suspended from the ceiling ",p:162,x:105,y:336,w:457,h:23},
{t:"directly above where Dr. Carey stood. He made only three com-",p:162,x:105,y:363,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ments. First he expressed his gratitude for the honor of present-",p:162,x:105,y:391,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ing the awards, then he congratulated those preparing to receive ",p:162,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"their degrees. Finally he paused for a moment before making ",p:162,x:105,y:446,w:457,h:23},
{t:"his last remark. He pointed to the cross above him, gazed at the ",p:162,x:105,y:473,w:454,h:23},
{t:"expectant faces of the graduates, and said, “You will come now ",p:162,x:105,y:501,w:455,h:23},
{t:"and graduate beneath the cross. Live there; live there.”",p:162,x:105,y:528,w:381,h:23},
{t:"My guess is that neither Suzy nor those who graduated with ",p:162,x:135,y:556,w:424,h:23},
{t:"her will ever forget those words. Live beneath the cross; never ",p:162,x:105,y:583,w:456,h:23},
{t:"move away from where God has brought you. ",p:162,x:105,y:611,w:328,h:23},
{t:"Scripture warns that all people will stand before the judg-",p:162,x:135,y:638,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ment seat of Christ to explain their actions in this life (Matthew ",p:162,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"12:36; Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Christians may ",p:162,x:105,y:693,w:458,h:23},
{t:"quickly respond that this warning no longer applies to them. ",p:162,x:105,y:721,w:456,h:23},
{t:"After all, “Whoever believes in [Christ] is not condemned” ",p:162,x:105,y:748,w:458,h:23},
{t:"(John 3:18). Te prophet Micah asked, “Who is a God like you, ",p:162,x:105,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant ",p:162,x:105,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"of his inheritance?” (Micah 7:18). Te apostle Paul observed, ",p:162,x:105,y:831,w:457,h:23},
{t:"149",p:163,x:535,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"DESTINY",p:163,x:503,y:64,w:44,h:21},
{t:"“Terefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in ",p:163,x:104,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).",p:163,x:104,y:143,w:196,h:23},
{t:"Clearly we are acquitted in the judgment pertaining to ",p:163,x:134,y:171,w:428,h:23},
{t:"salvation. But what about our lives and actions after we meet ",p:163,x:104,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"Jesus? Paul instructed the Corinthian church to judge themselves ",p:163,x:104,y:226,w:453,h:23},
{t:"so that they would not be subsequently judged (1 Corinthians ",p:163,x:104,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"11:27–33). He also warned the church in Rome to be ready to ",p:163,x:104,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"give an account of themselves to God (Romans 14:12). Tis ",p:163,x:104,y:308,w:457,h:23},
{t:"echoed Jesus’ solemn statement, “From everyone who has been ",p:163,x:104,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who ",p:163,x:104,y:363,w:456,h:23},
{t:"has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke ",p:163,x:104,y:391,w:454,h:23},
{t:"12:48).",p:163,x:104,y:418,w:51,h:23},
{t:"In this sense, we are not totally free from the implications ",p:163,x:134,y:446,w:425,h:23},
{t:"of God’s law. Yet neither are we weighed down by the demand-",p:163,x:104,y:473,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ing law revealed to Moses. Instead, we live up to the family ",p:163,x:104,y:501,w:457,h:23},
{t:"expectations of a Father’s heart. Tis is what he requires from ",p:163,x:104,y:528,w:456,h:23},
{t:"those whose lives are surrendered to Jesus and who want to live ",p:163,x:104,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"beneath the cross.",p:163,x:104,y:583,w:125,h:23},
{t:"Tis judgment concerns how we have lived within the fam-",p:163,x:134,y:611,w:419,h:23},
{t:"ily of God. As A. W. Tozer has pointedly observed, “One day ",p:163,x:104,y:638,w:456,h:23},
{t:"our record will be examined for evidence of our faithfulness, self-",p:163,x:104,y:666,w:449,h:23},
{t:"discipline, generosity beyond the demands of the law, courage ",p:163,x:104,y:693,w:456,h:23},
{t:"before our detractors, humility, separation from the world, cross ",p:163,x:104,y:721,w:454,h:23},
{t:"carrying . . .”1 ",p:163,x:104,y:748,w:101,h:23},
{t:"In this judgment, our careless words will be evaluated ",p:163,x:135,y:776,w:429,h:23},
{t:"(Matthew 12:36), our secret sins exposed (Romans 2:16), and ",p:163,x:105,y:803,w:456,h:23},
{t:"1.",p:163,x:105,y:866,w:11,h:19},
{t:" A. W. Tozer, Te Radical Cross (Camp Hill, PA: Wing Spread ",p:163,x:123,y:866,w:358,h:19},
{t:"Publishers, 2006), 83.",p:163,x:104,y:886,w:127,h:19},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:164,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"150",p:164,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"the quality of our ministry for Christ assessed. Ten we will ",p:164,x:105,y:116,w:457,h:23},
{t:"discover if gold and silver or wood and straw were the fnal result ",p:164,x:105,y:143,w:453,h:23},
{t:"of our labors (1 Corinthians 3:9–15). We know that we could ",p:164,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"never meet God’s standards without Christ. We need to live each ",p:164,x:105,y:198,w:453,h:23},
{t:"day beneath the cross.",p:164,x:105,y:226,w:155,h:23},
{t:"Living in Light of H",p:164,x:183,y:277,w:207,h:30},
{t:"eaven",p:164,x:415,y:277,w:60,h:30},
{t:"We can deduce, based on the biblical evidence, that there ",p:164,x:135,y:318,w:426,h:23},
{t:"is one judgment for salvation and another judgment for how ",p:164,x:105,y:345,w:456,h:23},
{t:"our hearts were conformed to Christ, including our service for ",p:164,x:105,y:373,w:455,h:23},
{t:"him. Te latter verdict does not qualify us for heaven, but it can ",p:164,x:105,y:400,w:454,h:23},
{t:"determine what reception we will receive upon our arrival there. ",p:164,x:105,y:428,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Tis may sound rather frightening. We always need to remember, ",p:164,x:105,y:455,w:453,h:23},
{t:"however, that the record is not of what we have done for Christ, ",p:164,x:105,y:483,w:454,h:23},
{t:"but of what we have allowed him to achieve through us.",p:164,x:105,y:510,w:388,h:23},
{t:"If all our human eforts are totally inadequate to prepare us ",p:164,x:135,y:538,w:424,h:23},
{t:"for heaven, then what would happen if we released the power ",p:164,x:105,y:565,w:456,h:23},
{t:"of God in our lives here on earth? Te focus on why we are still ",p:164,x:105,y:593,w:454,h:23},
{t:"here shifts when we recognize that our potential to serve began",p:164,x:105,y:620,w:450,h:23},
{t:"when we surrendered to Jesus—it did not end there! Suddenly ",p:164,x:105,y:648,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the signifcance and values others urge upon us diminish in ",p:164,x:105,y:675,w:458,h:23},
{t:"importance as we begin to live in light of the place where we will ",p:164,x:105,y:703,w:453,h:23},
{t:"give account for our lives: the judgment seat of Christ.",p:164,x:105,y:730,w:384,h:23},
{t:"Some of us are reluctant to examine our lives with the hon-",p:164,x:135,y:758,w:419,h:23},
{t:"esty with which Jennifer has evaluated hers. If we do, however, ",p:164,x:105,y:785,w:455,h:23},
{t:"then we can know—as she did—the awesome wonder of God’s ",p:164,x:105,y:813,w:455,h:23},
{t:"forgiveness and healing in those hidden but sacred places of our ",p:164,x:105,y:840,w:454,h:23},
{t:"hearts and lives.",p:164,x:105,y:868,w:112,h:23},
{t:"151",p:165,x:537,y:935,w:15,h:19},
{t:"DESTINY",p:165,x:503,y:64,w:44,h:21},
{t:"Jennifer did not feel it was enough to lay back in her illness ",p:165,x:135,y:116,w:424,h:23},
{t:"and prepare to meet her Lord. Te idea of hanging on for heaven ",p:165,x:105,y:143,w:453,h:23},
{t:"was not in her understanding. She was ready to meet him, but ",p:165,x:105,y:171,w:455,h:23},
{t:"frst she wanted to serve him out of gratitude for all that he had ",p:165,x:105,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"done for her. She may have missed opportunities, but she has ",p:165,x:105,y:226,w:456,h:23},
{t:"made powerful use of her remaining time; and one day she will ",p:165,x:105,y:253,w:455,h:23},
{t:"stand before the living God, knowing the joy of the harvest of ",p:165,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"hearts she led into his family.",p:165,x:105,y:308,w:204,h:23},
{t:"We cannot earn our way into heaven. What we can do is ",p:165,x:135,y:336,w:426,h:23},
{t:"ofer ourselves to God now, live in the way he intends, and then ",p:165,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"enter heaven with fewer regrets than would otherwise be the ",p:165,x:105,y:391,w:457,h:23},
{t:"case. At that point God will amaze us by giving us the praise ",p:165,x:105,y:418,w:456,h:23},
{t:"that he promises for faithful service (1 Corinthians 4:5). In the ",p:165,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"meantime, the greater our surrender, the more God’s love and ",p:165,x:105,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"power will be at work in us. It’s our motives that God examines ",p:165,x:105,y:501,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and his praise that we can anticipate!",p:165,x:105,y:528,w:259,h:23},
{t:"Standing Befor",p:165,x:172,y:579,w:154,h:30},
{t:"e the Throne",p:165,x:343,y:579,w:141,h:30},
{t:"We do not need to stop with motives only. Pause for a ",p:165,x:135,y:620,w:428,h:23},
{t:"moment and try to grasp that God reviews the desires of our ",p:165,x:105,y:648,w:456,h:23},
{t:"hearts—and he responds to those desires. Te passion in our ",p:165,x:105,y:675,w:457,h:23},
{t:"hearts to love and serve Jesus will produce results, not just a ",p:165,x:105,y:703,w:457,h:23},
{t:"mental checklist of good intentions.",p:165,x:105,y:730,w:253,h:23},
{t:"Not wasting our lives really means being prepared to live ",p:165,x:135,y:758,w:426,h:23},
{t:"for the beneft of others. It means springing into action to meet ",p:165,x:105,y:785,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the needs of the poor, the hurting, the lonely, and the oppressed ",p:165,x:105,y:813,w:454,h:23},
{t:"around the world—and especially on our own doorstep (Matthew ",p:165,x:105,y:840,w:452,h:23},
{t:"25:31–40). It also means that we recognize the urgency to share ",p:165,x:105,y:868,w:454,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:166,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"152",p:166,x:105,y:935,w:16,h:19},
{t:"the love of Jesus through the way we live and by telling people ",p:166,x:105,y:116,w:455,h:23},
{t:"the good news about Jesus (Matthew 28:18–20).",p:166,x:105,y:143,w:344,h:23},
{t:"Te call the Lord places on our lives is a challenge to love ",p:166,x:134,y:171,w:426,h:23},
{t:"him and develop a deep, intimate relationship with him. Tat ",p:166,x:105,y:198,w:456,h:23},
{t:"call expands to love our community in all its lostness and need, ",p:166,x:105,y:226,w:454,h:23},
{t:"and to love and support God’s people worldwide as they seek ",p:166,x:105,y:253,w:456,h:23},
{t:"to reach their nations for Jesus. Te motive is crucial, but then ",p:166,x:105,y:281,w:455,h:23},
{t:"actions will result. ",p:166,x:105,y:308,w:132,h:23},
{t:"A word of caution is required here: we can burn out because ",p:166,x:134,y:336,w:424,h:23},
{t:"of our acts of kindness and service, actually achieving very little. ",p:166,x:105,y:363,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Te real desire of our hearts should not lie in what we do for oth-",p:166,x:105,y:391,w:449,h:23},
{t:"ers, but in how we serve our Lord and King. We must be careful ",p:166,x:105,y:418,w:454,h:23},
{t:"to refrain from work that he doesn ’t command. One task done ",p:166,x:105,y:446,w:455,h:23},
{t:"under divine direction and in the power of the Holy Spirit is ",p:166,x:105,y:473,w:456,h:23},
{t:"worth more than a thousand well-intentioned, worthy activities.",p:166,x:105,y:501,w:449,h:23},
{t:"A crucifed life is lived to please God. An exchanged life will ",p:166,x:134,y:528,w:424,h:23},
{t:"allow him to work through us. Rather than using the best that ",p:166,x:105,y:556,w:455,h:23},
{t:"we can ofer, we are called to allow our God to lead, mobilize, ",p:166,x:105,y:583,w:455,h:23},
{t:"direct, and empower so that all is done with, through, and for ",p:166,x:105,y:611,w:455,h:23},
{t:"him.",p:166,x:105,y:638,w:33,h:23},
{t:"Tere is a great story about a young piano student who was ",p:166,x:134,y:666,w:424,h:23},
{t:"discovered by a London impresario. Tis talent scout was so ",p:166,x:105,y:693,w:457,h:23},
{t:"enamored by the young man ’s abilities that he decided to ofer ",p:166,x:105,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"him the opportunity of a lifetime. Te music student found ",p:166,x:105,y:748,w:457,h:23},
{t:"himself seated behind a grand piano, playing to an enthusiastic ",p:166,x:105,y:776,w:455,h:23},
{t:"crowd that had packed a London concert hall to enjoy a free ",p:166,x:105,y:803,w:456,h:23},
{t:"performance that evening. Te generous impresario had paid for ",p:166,x:105,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"everything.",p:166,x:105,y:858,w:78,h:23},
{t:"153",p:167,x:536,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"DESTINY",p:167,x:503,y:64,w:44,h:21},
{t:"Filled with gratitude and an understanding of how far this ",p:167,x:135,y:116,w:425,h:23},
{t:"amazing opportunity could lead, the young man played bril-",p:167,x:105,y:143,w:449,h:23},
{t:"liantly. Te music he produced that night was incredible. He ",p:167,x:105,y:171,w:457,h:23},
{t:"truly gave his audience the performance of a lifetime. A British ",p:167,x:105,y:198,w:455,h:23},
{t:"audience can be cautious, to put it charitably, in giving praise. ",p:167,x:105,y:226,w:455,h:23},
{t:"But not that night! To the impresario ’s amazement, the specta-",p:167,x:105,y:253,w:449,h:23},
{t:"tors spontaneously rose to their feet and clapped and cheered. ",p:167,x:105,y:281,w:439,h:23},
{t:"As the young pianist left the platform, he was enthusiastically ",p:167,x:135,y:308,w:423,h:23},
{t:"greeted by the impresario, who said, “Go on, play an encore!”",p:167,x:105,y:336,w:434,h:23},
{t:"Te young man shook his head.",p:167,x:135,y:363,w:225,h:23},
{t:"“But they are all standing for you,” urged the impresario.",p:167,x:135,y:391,w:401,h:23},
{t:"“No, they are not,” the young man responded. “Tat old ",p:167,x:135,y:418,w:426,h:23},
{t:"man seated on the aisle three rows from the back of the balcony ",p:167,x:105,y:446,w:454,h:23},
{t:". . . See him? He’s sitting.”",p:167,x:105,y:473,w:184,h:23},
{t:"“Only one—he cannot know his music!” was the impresa-",p:167,x:135,y:501,w:419,h:23},
{t:"rio ’s verdict.",p:167,x:105,y:528,w:84,h:23},
{t:"“Oh yes he does,” came the reply. “Tat’s my teacher. If he ",p:167,x:135,y:556,w:425,h:23},
{t:"was standing and everyone else was sitting, then I would play an ",p:167,x:105,y:583,w:454,h:23},
{t:"encore. But I can ’t if he’s still sitting.”",p:167,x:105,y:611,w:262,h:23},
{t:"Dr. R. T. Kendall shared with me a marvelous epilogue to ",p:167,x:135,y:638,w:425,h:23},
{t:"this story. Two thousand years ago, a man named Stephen died. ",p:167,x:105,y:666,w:454,h:23},
{t:"As he was about to be stoned to death for his faith in Jesus, the ",p:167,x:105,y:693,w:454,h:23},
{t:"face of this frst martyr lit up as he saw Jesus waiting in heaven ",p:167,x:105,y:721,w:455,h:23},
{t:"for him. Ten, as Jesus had done, Stephen forgave his killers ",p:167,x:105,y:748,w:457,h:23},
{t:"before he died. Scripture tells us that our Lord Jesus is seated at ",p:167,x:105,y:776,w:454,h:23},
{t:"the right hand of the Father. But that is not how Stephen saw ",p:167,x:105,y:803,w:455,h:23},
{t:"him. Jesus was standing (Acts 7:55)—standing for one who had ",p:167,x:105,y:831,w:454,h:23},
{t:"lived for him and would now die for him.",p:167,x:105,y:858,w:295,h:23},
{t:"DYING TO LIVE",p:168,x:105,y:64,w:73,h:21},
{t:"154",p:168,x:105,y:935,w:17,h:19},
{t:"Whether or not we are called to be martyrs, we too die in ",p:168,x:135,y:116,w:425,h:23},
{t:"order to live. Tat’s the paradox of the crucifed life. ",p:168,x:105,y:143,w:370,h:23},
{t:"So do not waste your life. If you have already surrendered ",p:168,x:135,y:171,w:426,h:23},
{t:"your life to Jesus, then heaven waits. Te question remains: Will ",p:168,x:105,y:198,w:454,h:23},
{t:"Jesus be standing or sitting when you arrive to meet him?",p:168,x:105,y:226,w:403,h:23},
{t:"I long with all of my heart to be part of a church that gets ",p:168,x:135,y:253,w:425,h:23},
{t:"Jesus standing—standing because we lived and died for him and ",p:168,x:105,y:281,w:454,h:23},
{t:"did not waste our lives sitting back and comfortably anticipating ",p:168,x:105,y:308,w:453,h:23},
{t:"heaven. Instead, we allowed him to live and love through us to ",p:168,x:105,y:336,w:455,h:23},
{t:"touch and change his world. ",p:168,x:105,y:363,w:197,h:23},
{t:"Let the last word belong to the Lord Jesus himself: “Behold, ",p:168,x:135,y:391,w:424,h:23},
{t:"I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to ",p:168,x:105,y:418,w:456,h:23},
{t:"everyone according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12). ",p:168,x:105,y:446,w:435,h:23},
{t:"Prayer ",p:168,x:105,y:530,w:75,h:38},
{t:" Lord, you know that I am not in this just for ",p:168,x:194,y:538,w:366,h:28},
{t:"the fnal rewards. I long to live for you and to know that you are ",p:168,x:104,y:568,w:454,h:23},
{t:"living through me in a way that really makes a diference. Take ",p:168,x:104,y:596,w:455,h:23},
{t:"me to the front lines of the work of your kingdom. Fill my heart ",p:168,x:104,y:623,w:454,h:23},
{t:"with the joy and wonder of seeing the bold and wonderful things ",p:168,x:104,y:651,w:453,h:23},
{t:"that you yearn to do—and let your still, small voice guide me ",p:168,x:104,y:678,w:456,h:23},
{t:"to those who have no voice of their own. Soften my heart until ",p:168,x:104,y:706,w:455,h:23},
{t:"I sense that when I minister to others, I minister to you. May ",p:168,x:104,y:733,w:456,h:23},
{t:"I not waste the opportunity, in the time I have left on earth, to ",p:168,x:104,y:761,w:455,h:23},
{t:"surrender all I have and am in return for all your grace, guidance, ",p:168,x:104,y:788,w:453,h:23},
{t:"and empowerment. Tank you, Father. Amen.",p:168,x:104,y:816,w:327,h:23},
{t:"MANY CHRISTIANS ACKNOWLEDGE that they love Jesus but are ",p:169,x:45,y:44,w:501,h:18},
{t:"disillusioned about their spiritual condition. They come to Christ to drink from ",p:169,x:45,y:67,w:567,h:18},
{t:"the well of his new life, yet they find that their thirst remains. Why has the ",p:169,x:45,y:91,w:541,h:18},
{t:"Christian life not met their expectations for spiritual growth, and how can they ",p:169,x:45,y:114,w:572,h:18},
{t:"satisfy this craving for their Christian walk to have a deeper impact?",p:169,x:45,y:137,w:498,h:18},
{t:"For far too long we have been presented with a version of the Christian faith ",p:169,x:45,y:184,w:564,h:18},
{t:"that majors on what we get rather than on what we give. The cross has been ",p:169,x:45,y:207,w:568,h:18},
{t:"portrayed as the place where Jesus died for us, and where we receive from ",p:169,x:45,y:231,w:559,h:18},
{t:"him, but rarely as the location of our joint crucifixion with him. The ",p:169,x:45,y:254,w:486,h:18},
{t:"uncomfortable truth is that Jesus calls us to share his cross. “If anyone would ",p:169,x:45,y:277,w:572,h:18},
{t:"come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” ",p:169,x:45,y:301,w:552,h:18},
{t:"(Matthew 16:24).",p:169,x:45,y:324,w:125,h:18},
{t:"Fortunately, we don’t have to be some kind of “super Christian” to allow ",p:169,x:45,y:371,w:528,h:18},
{t:"God’s power to work through us. Calver shows how a number of ordinary ",p:169,x:45,y:394,w:542,h:18},
{t:"believers have discovered the paradoxical fulfillment of the crucified life as ",p:169,x:45,y:417,w:551,h:18},
{t:"they die to self and serve God and other people. By “dying to live,” you too ",p:169,x:45,y:441,w:552,h:18},
{t:"can know the joy of the resurrection.",p:169,x:45,y:464,w:267,h:18},
{t:"www.authenticbooks.com",p:169,x:44,y:967,w:113,h:11},
{t:"“With wisdom and compassion, Clive strips off the layers of ‘lacquer' that ",p:169,x:61,y:519,w:528,h:16},
{t:"have obscured the rough wood of the cross and rendered it safe from the ",p:169,x:61,y:543,w:526,h:16},
{t:"splinters that might pierce our comfort-loving flesh or disturb our religious ",p:169,x:61,y:566,w:537,h:16},
{t:"consumerism. If you too are searching for the real thing, read on.”",p:169,x:61,y:589,w:471,h:16},
{t:"—GRAHAM KENDRICK, International worship leader, speaker, and performer",p:169,x:61,y:623,w:425,h:18},
{t:"DR. CLIVE CALVER is the senior pastor of W alnut Hill Community Church, Bethel, CT . Previously , ",p:169,x:46,y:683,w:571,h:14},
{t:"he was president of World Relief for seven years, where he traveled the globe, ministering to the ",p:169,x:46,y:703,w:568,h:14},
{t:"poor and empowering the church to work together to change the world for Jesus Christ. Calver ",p:169,x:46,y:723,w:560,h:14},
{t:"also led and was a major spokesperson for the Evangelical ",p:169,x:46,y:743,w:351,h:14},
{t:"Alliance of the United Kingdom. It was ",p:169,x:390,y:743,w:228,h:14},
{t:"during that time that Calver and his commentaries on current issues were a mainstay on the BBC. ",p:169,x:46,y:763,w:579,h:14},
{t:"He has also appeared on ABC’s Nightline, CNN, and National Public Radio. He has authored ",p:169,x:46,y:783,w:548,h:14},
{t:"twenty books and has been published in many national and local print media.",p:169,x:46,y:803,w:454,h:14},
{t:"Spiritual Formation",p:169,x:531,y:852,w:83,h:11},
{t:"",p:169,x:468,y:958,w:9,h:13},
{t:"",p:169,x:485,y:958,w:51,h:13},
{t:"",p:169,x:543,y:958,w:51,h:13},
{t:"ISBN 978-1-934068-80-9",p:169,x:477,y:880,w:119,h:12},
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{t:"Dying to live16_2_09_PRESS.pdf   2/16/09   4:36:39 PM",p:169,x:63,y:-61,w:318,h:10},
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