The Experience of Studying Hebrew as a Student Who is Blind
Sarah Blake is a licensed minister with the Church of God (Anderson, IN). She is available to provide biblical teaching, ministry seminars, or music ministry for your church. Hear samples from some of her presentations and contact her for booking information.
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The Life You've Always Wanted is a book about spiritual disciplines. In addition to discussing their nature, Ortberg discusses the use of spiritual disciplines in achieving a desired relationship with God. He begins by confessing his own disappointment with the state of his relationship with God and giving examples of common aspects of American life that hinder development of a close relationship with God.
Ortberg’s discussion of “training vs. trying” provides a new perspective regarding spiritual disciplines. He discusses common misconceptions that people have, such as the idea that spiritual disciplines bring a person closer to God and that they should be unpleasant. The disciplines, he says, are not a means to gain favor with God but rather training exercises to build specific "muscles." He emphasizes the fact that spiritual disciplines are not necessarily unpleasant but should bring joy as they enrich the relationship with God. He suggests that a person may need to practice particular disciplines based on particular areas of struggle.
Rather than devoting a single chapter to a specific discipline, Ortberg devotes chapters to particular qualities of spiritual life that readers may want to improve and discusses disciplines that may help build these qualities. Ortberg begins his discussion of disciplines, appropriately, with the discipline of joy. His discussion progresses through areas of life which lead gradually to greater maturity, ending with the life of endurance, built by practicing discipline of suffering. He points out that suffering is not something that God visits on the unbeliever in order to test or manipulate the person into believing; rather, it is for the maturing of the believer.
Ortberg's discussions include personal anecdotes as well as references to other writers, including well-known theologians. While he refers often to theologians whom most laypeople would find it difficult to read, his own writing is easily understood. Some of his anecdotes, such as the story about Mabel, an elderly lady who was blind and bedridden, can evoke tears. At other times, they evoke laughter. One example is the story of an old man who poured a bottle of wine on a businessman’s head on an airplane. When he uses Scripture, he draws the reader into the passage for a look that is very personal. In the final chapter about suffering, he re-tells the story of Abraham's call to sacrifice Isaac in a way that calls the reader to enter the story, to walk along the road and imagine witnessing the event personally.
His writing style makes it easy to keep reading and to reflect on the meaning of his words for one's life. He includes bulleted lists in various places to suggest ways to practice the disciplines.
Ortberg, John. The Life You've Always Wanted. Grand Rapids, MI:Zondervan, 1998.
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This book is also available in a format for group study. A participant's guide is also available.
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Sarah Blake graduated from Anderson University with an M.Div., professional distinction in Hebrew, in August, 2009. She provides biblical teaching for retreats, church services, and other special events; music ministry; and education for churches and community groups seeking to develop strategies for including people with disabilities. For more information about booking Sarah to speak at your church or community event, visit her services page.
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Sarah J. Blake