recklessly dreaming

iGospel
Originally uploaded by jrogttu.

Potential Long Post Warning…..

We live in a very me-o-centric word, from advertising to computers. [I am writing this on my iBook, the software includes iCal, iTunes (which is out of commission until Easter!), iMovie, iDVD, iLife, one of my students has my iPod - see a trend?] Its all about me. An approach that works well for a company to convey to its customers.
However, it becomes scary when that me-focused, consumer mentality finds its want into our ministries and churches.
Several of the statements I have heard before (both growing up and as a “grown-up”) revolve around a central idea - its about me. God loved me soooo much. If I was the only person - Jesus would have still come. [Insert note: Jen believes that God loves us and cares for us and has done amazing things for us.] But to steal from John Piper and Louie Giglio, we’ve hijacked the Gospel and made ourselves the central characters, rather than finding ourselves as minor roles in the story of God. (using the general “we” to cover the comments that I hear and the way I hear people talk about the Bible, and pray).
What if we’ve bought into a too small picture of the glory of God?


I don’t think it was an intentional stealing of the story, but I sense it around me. The way we talk about church, God, politics, the world around us. The way we live our daily lives. What would it look like if we really got it into our heads that everything, rather than being about us, was about the glory of God? That our lives aren’t about ourselves, but the glory of God? Our jobs? Finances? etc?

How does that change sermons? and devos? and times of worship? and prayer?

Words from Steven Curtis Chapman’s Much of You

How could I stand here

And watch the sun rise

Follow the mountains

Where they touch the sky

Ponder the vastness

And the depths of the sea

And think for a moment

The point of it all was to make much of me

Cause I’m just a whisper

And You are the thunder and



I want to make much of You, Jesus

I want to make much of Your love

I want to live today to give You the praise

That You alone are so worthy of

I want to make much of Your mercy

I want to make much of Your cross

I give You my life

Take it and let it be used

To make much of You



And how can I kneel here

And think of the cross

The thorns and the whip and the nails and the spear

The infinite cost

To purchase my pardon

And bear all my shame

To think I have anything worth boasting in except for Your name

Cause I am a sinner

And You are the Savior



I want to make much of You, Jesus

I want to make much of Your love

I want to live today to give You the praise

That You alone are so worthy of

I want to make much of Your mercy

I want to make much of Your cross

I give You my life

Take it and let it be used

I want to make much of You

Much of You Jesus

In case you missed it the first time, here are the words from Louie G. again


Here’s the story. God’s done it all for his glory. He does everything he does for his glory. If you don’t like that I’m sorry. If you were God, you would make yourself the center too, because you would have no choice but to do that. Because you are great. And god ahs made himself the center of every thought he has ever had, every action he has ever taken, every outcome he has ever hoped for. and he has made himself the centerpiece of history. But amazingly this God, who had everything, who was self-sustained, self existing. This God created a perfect world, He created a paradise for you and me. He said Hey I’m God, I’m the Lord, that’s my name and I know thats my name. And your name is Adam and you r name is Eve. don’t go around thinking that your name is god and your name is goddess. Your name is Adam, and your name is Eve, and my name is God. Are we all clear on that? Cool. I made all of this, and you guys weren’t here yet. I know you guys would have loved to have been here to give me some feedback, and some help, and some advice, and some thoughts about it. But I made all this before you got here. Welcome to my story. Welcome to the planet earth. The end of the 6th day, creation’s done, everything’s made. Now he makes Adam and now he makes Eve. And he says, “Hey I just wanted you guys to be in the story. It’s my story. It’s my world. It’s my planet. It’s my universe. It’s all for me. From me through me to me, through me be the glory for ever and ever amen. And I just want to invite you in. “