The Dangerous Duty of Delight

One of those books where it's absolutely critical that you READ THE WHOLE THING through. Piper is great for using language that shocks the reader into paying attention. If you take what he sometimes writes, out of context, then you will think he's a heretic. Let him finish his thought and explain himself and you will find him radically transforming.

In this short booklet, Piper argues that the Christian is to pursue pleasure as much as possible. Of course, ultimate pleasure and satisfaction and contentment is only found in Jesus Christ. He explains the idea, argues for it, and derives implications for it. The chapters are short and fairly simple, but it makes great devotional reading when you only have 10 minutes.

Really enjoyed this fresh look at desiring God. These are some of my favorite quotes:
“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” by CS Lewis
“The great hindrance to worship is not that we are pleasure-seeking people, but that we are willing to settle for such pitiful pleasures.”
“God is not glorified when we keep for ourselves (no matter how thankfully) what we ought to be using to alleviate the misery of unevangelized, unmedicated and unfed millions.”
"Life is war. All talk of a Christian's right to live luxuriously 'as a child of the King' in this atmosphere sounds hollow - especially since the King Himself stripped for show more battle.”
"The great incentive for throwing our lives into the cause of missions is the 10,000 - percent return on the investment."
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim Elliot
“In the pursuit of joy through suffering, we magnify the all-satisfying worth of the Source of our joy.” show less

Anything written by John Piper is life changing for me. If you love his books, visit his website, "desiringgod.com" and watch him preach.

LT Dangerous Duty of Delight, John Piper, 2001, 4/30/18
A synopsis of Desiring God

Theme: Biblical worldview, how should Christians engage the culture
Type: teaching, philosophy
Value: 1-
Age: Col
Interest: 1-
Objectionable: 28-faith+proof, 50, 51, 87, 88-2, 161, 220-Bride/marriage, 228-discipline, 312-reference, 385/387 ispsi dixit, 422-assumption
Synopsis/Noteworthy:

A needed corrective/emphasis
Weakness is can be easily misleading

7-9 intro (double-lined in my copy)
9 def of Christian Hedonism: pursuit of infinite delight (inferred)
(21 def: we most glorify God when we enjoy Him
10 history
13 joy as a by-product
19 joy in seeing His glory
23 enjoyment overflows into praise
26 experience death as pain
30 if no feeling
32 we are commanded to feel
41 show more ultimate is when other's joy makes us happy
48 joy possible only with faith in afterlife
54, 56-7 worship is feast
83 self-denial destroys root of sorrow show less

Transformed my way of looking at life.

Grand Rapids, MI