Francis Chan - Suffering
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw5pNvcSFMI
John Piper - You Will Suffer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--JiiuJNvt4
Meditate on these words:
"The purpose of God in creating the universe
is to display the greatness of the glory
of his grace
supremely in the suffering of his Son.
That's yesterday; today the summons:
Will you join the Son
in displaying
the supreme satisfaction
of the glory of grace
in joining him on the Calvary road of suffering?
Because there is no other way
the world is gonna see
the supreme glory of Christ today
except that we break free from the Disney Land of America;
and begin to live lifestyles of missionary sacrifice,
that looks to the world like our treasure is in heaven
and not on the earth.
Its the only way.
The "prosperity gospel" will not make anybody praise Jesus.
It will make people praise prosperity.
Of course I'll have a Jesus who will give me a car!
Who wouldn't want a Jesus who gives me health, a car, a fine marriage?
I'll take your Jesus-- if the pay off is right!
That's not the way that you are going to win your campuses.
Dressin' the coolest
Drivin' the coolest
Typin' on the coolest
Its not going to get any praise for the suffering Christ.
...
He calls you to another way."
Suffering makes it so that you would not choose this lifestyle if it were not true. This way we see his glory in our lives in the fact that he can sustain us though we are not filled by the ongoing drone of temporary pleasures as the world around us is continually shoveling up.
Matt Chandler on his experience of getting cancer and about suffering
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tr9YbzPgS8
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sct5ZEt0ps4
Watching as he was faithful during this experience; and his wife's good thoughts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpkPOXnYnSc
LASTLY, a quote from Charles Spurgeon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BS_KvFbJPk
