“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, . . . Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”- Hebrews 12:2-3 In her Preface to […]
Satisfied (Zondervan, 2013) Satisfied: Discovering Contentment in a World of Consumption is the second book by Jeff Manion, senior teaching pastor at Ada Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His first book, The Land Between, used the Israelite’s journey through the Sinai Desert as a metaphor for being in an undesired, yet potentially transformational, time of […]
As Jeff Manion begins Chapter 19 (“Someone’s at the Door”) of Satisfied, he states that, for many of us, our mental image of Jesus has been shaped by artist Warner Sallman’s famous painting Head of Christ. Yet another of Sallman’s paintings hung on a wall in my childhood bedroom, directly opposite my bed. It was […]
And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son.” . . . . And she went and did as Elijah said.- 1 Kings 17:13, 15 In Chapter […]
“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”- 2 Corinthians 9:10 As Jeff Manion concludes Chapter 15 of Satisfied, he references the Old Testament account of Elijah’s prophetic voice to King Ahab and Queen Jezebel (1 Kings […]
“Give us this day our daily bread.”- Matthew 6:11 Chapter 15 (“Daily Bread”) of Satisfied begins with author Jeff Manion relating a story from his childhood. Right after their graduation from Bible college, Jeff’s parents moved to Southeast Idaho to begin a ministry planting churches- a daunting task in a region with minimal Christian influence. With […]
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”- 1 Timothy 6:17 Jeff Manion begins Chapter 11 (“Enjoy This”) of Satisfied by telling a story […]
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”- Ephesians 1:13 You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.”- 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20 In Chapter 10 (“Sealed”) of Satisfied, author Jeff Manion mentions that slaves […]
” . . . nothing we buy can take away our loneliness, fill our emptiness, or heal our brokenness.”- Fred Rogers “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.”- Ephesians 1:7-8 Before beginning Chapter 9 (“Bought”) of Satisfied, […]
“In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”- Ephesians 1:5-6 (ESV) Part 3 (“Identity Shift”) of Jeff Manion’s latest book, Satisfied, begins with Chapter 8 (“Adopted”). There Pastor […]
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”- Ephesians 2:10 My fourth grade classmate Gary Ziervogel boarded the Timothy Lutheran School bus and sat down next to me, brimming with excitement. “Guess what?” he announced. “My parents bought a piano and I’m going to […]
Jeff Manion completes his study of comparison in Chapters 6 (“Ice Cream Bowls”) and 7 (“The Spending Gap”) of Satisfied. He begins by stressing our need to understand that when our hearts believe God has ripped us off or is holding out on us, we can justify anything and rationalize any behavior. Furthermore, the deeper […]