Chapter 2 -- God is Good

Chapter 2 -- God is Good

As we become apprentices of Jesus, we replace many of our wrong narratives that the world or church taught us. Truly understanding the truths of this chapter changed my life and coaching narrative more than any other that I learned in Jim's class.

Thomas Torrance wrote, "There is in fact no God behind the back of Jesus." To me, that means the angry God that people expect to be tucked away behind this man does not exist....perhaps that notion comes from the Old Testament....for me, it took a while, but I learned that the principal of linearity did not exist in His Kingdom in the way I believed. For example, if I do this, then I will receive this ( A + B = C). As I try tried to align how I ran the queendom of Jane with His Kingdom, it was a hard lie to trade in for truth, because for much of my life, this belief was very convenient.

I can actually remember sitting on the sidelines before a game and looking at the coach of the other team and smiling. Back then, I believed with all my heart we would win the game because I had been so "good" (serving, doing quiet time, praying, confessing, reading my Bible), and I knew that she had not ( she wasn't even a Christian). A pretty good lie to have on your side when you are feeling good, huh? But years later in my life, several crises happened, I believed the reverse. When my Daddy died, when I got run out of town because I didn't win enough games, and when I had a brain aneurysm, I was pretty sure I knew in each of these cases horrible sin I had committed against GOD to deserve these horrible things. Nothing could have been further from the truth. I replaced the “narrative God is an angry judge. If you sin, you will be punished." But it took several years. I know now that GOD is good and that nothing can happen to me today that He cannot handle. I am safe in His kingdom.

  1. Have you ever felt you were being punished for a sin? Or rewarded for being good? Is this hard to replace?
  2. Reread pages 46-47 "The Good Only the Good Know". St. Augustine is profound as he shifts the discussion away from the "cause and effect" narrative of sin and suffering. What does he replace this with?
  3. On page 49, Jim writes, "we participate in HIS faith." How is coaching an opportunity to do that?
  4. The disciplines of silence and being aware of His creation were life changing for me. Both of them took time to develop, but I have found that when I combine the two, I break the hold of the world and also that I feel closer to Him. I just returned from a week at the beach, where i had long periods of both, and I feel refueled and refreshed. Short doses daily, PLUS longer times -- each are like gold to me. What did you learn this week as you began exploring these disciplines?
Posted on Mon, May 10, 2010 by Jane Albright

6 comments (Add your own)

1. Kristen D wrote:
Jane-

Thank you for sharing. Your post really reminded me how important it is to remain steadfast in the truth that He is Good and sovereign even in times of difficulty. It is so easy for me to proclaim His goodness when everything is smooth but so much harder when trails hit.

1. I have definitely felt that I have been punished for sins. Replacing that lie is hard because it is contrary to what society tells us (every action, good or bad, has a consequence).

2. I love how St. Augustine shifts focus to "the good things peculiar to the good". I have never thought about it this way but it makes perfect sense. When we consistently strive to do good and pursue Him, we experience a peace and joy that no worldly thing could ever bring. What an incredible blessing!

3. The idea that "we participate in His faith," is such a powerful statement. As coaches we have such an opportunity to impact our players lives, for the better or for worse. Our actions speak so much louder than our words ever could.

4. Sitting in silence or "being still" is a hard thing to do. I think it's especially hard for coaches because we like to go, go, go and if we are not going we don't feel like we are being productive. This was a real challenge for me but being still gave me a chance to just sit with Him. It allowed me to hear from Him and just refocus my energy on what is truly important.

Mon, May 10, 2010 @ 9:13 PM

2. kamie wrote:
Jane,
Thanks for the blog so far....i have really enjoyed reading this book. I have taken alot of time to reread much of the first 2 chapters...and now onto #3
I must admit to struggling with some of 2...i am sure after i explain some of my thoughts you can straighten out some of my thinking....at least i hope?? smile

First of all, i dont believe i have ever seen God as a God who punishes me....who is NOT good...who treats me with anger...or who withholds good things ....BUT

is this chapter saying there is no consequence for our sin?? that there is not seperation from God when we do fall into sinful thinking or actions?? I mean we are called to obedience, right?? am i wrong in thinking....consequesnce of sin (selfishness, laziness or self righteousness)...that i might miss out on good things peculiar to the good??
again i never doubt even in those times He is not loving, good, just and full of mercy and grace...i know He is faithful even when i am not....but surley i lose out on something when i am not...i know this is where it gets tricky....i lose out on a blessing....now we have to define blessings right??

i guess what i am ultimately saying is that this chapter in many ways can make me feel awesome and it taught me so much....that i live by Christ's faith...i am never alone...and that Jesus believes even when I cannot...yet i struggle with page 46-47 and The Good only the Good Know....there is nothing that is said that i don't fully believe but I guess i can see myself fully capable of evil or bad things too...certainly selfishness or meanness....and altho i don't want to say i am intimately acquinted with guilt, loneliness or remorse....i can certainly go there....
therefore i don't really feel as though i have total goodness in me....i feel like that is a daily struggle for me to surrender my will and be filled and satisfied in and with Christ....heck, left on my own i am easily drawn into evil or selfish thoughts

jane are you laughing at me?? haha you know me i don't mind looking into the crevices??
i have more thoughts but i need some input now....
ok, your turn to dissect....thanks again for leading this!!

Tue, May 11, 2010 @ 4:58 PM

3. janeygal wrote:
kristen- thanks YOU and kamie, thank YOU too. I have loved your questions since Lcrabb's inside out in the 80's. (: I love these, too. And I have asked Jim to stop by and clarify this issue- its so important! I'll weigh in with it after his post! You have me thinking!

Wed, May 12, 2010 @ 9:41 AM

4. Kim wrote:
I too am really enjoying this book and the blogging. I have often struggled with feeling like I'm doing everything right and wondering why others who are are succeeding on the court and perhaps I'm not. I wondered why good doesn't win out every time. I know God is sovereign and truly believe He is good, perfect in His judgments, and so faithful, but still I struggle. I struggle with the expectations of winning and being successful for my university as a coach and really still keeping the focus on eternal things and things that God cares about. Does God care who wins and loses? God is using this book to help me just as He did the first time I heard Jane's testimony last year at FCA WBCA breakfast. All of your thoughts help as well. Thank you

1. Yes I struggle with the punishment and reward and the difference between those and consequences and blessings. And when something bad happens it's hard not to ask what I did wrong when sometimes we know we didn't but often times i have. I like the words to an old song by Cynthia Clawson i think "God is to wise to be mistaken, God is to good to be unkind. when you can't understand, when you can't trace His hand trust His heart."

2. I liked on p.46 "It is not beneficial to spend our time worrying about why good or bad things happen. It's simply not worthwhile because we simply cannot know. And more importantly it keeps us from focusing on the right things." This makes so much sense to me and is very helpful.

3. coaching is such an opportunity to participate in His faith because honestly apart from Him I could not do this job, work under this pressure, or manage my life. Being at this level (college D III) has taught me to really trust God in at a whole new level with my job. It has become daily trust and dependence on God out of necessity, for survival to be honest.

Thu, May 13, 2010 @ 2:50 PM

5. James Bryan Smith wrote:
As the author of this book I can say that all of the comments and insights were really helpful to me. I want to try and respond to questions that are raised, but please know that I am not defensive, so if you have a concern or criticism of the book, please share it. OK, we are clear on that.
I think Kamie raises a really important question (Ch. 2, comment 2), and I want to try and respond as best I can. You are right on when you state that there are, of course, consequences for sin. Sin by its nature is desrtuctive. Even a small lie causes damage, to the one telling it and the one it is told to. Of course, there are sins that even more damaging to everyone involved. So, I agree, there are serious consequences to every sin. What I was trying to deal with here is the fact that the world we live in is not entirely just. One of the godlies women I know got cancer and died at 52. One of the most anti-God persons I know lives a life of lavish wealth, health and success. If there is any justice, it comes from the fact that there are things that can only be experienced by a life well lived with God, such as peace, courage, and the strength and joy that comes only with integrity.
But in the chapter I would have liked to add a little more about what in fact is lost when we sin, or as Kamie puts it, the consequences of sin. When I sin--knowingly, wilfully sin--I turn away from the one who created and loved me. I lose that fellowship, not because God is mad (though certainly sad) but because I chose to shut God out. I also lose my own inner integrity, because I am betraying myself. Until I turn back to God I forfeit peace, joy, and good conscience between God and myself.
Kamie also mentions the tension between our goodness (people in whom Christ dwells) and our bent toward sinning (that we are capable of evil). I think that is the reality of our condition--"prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love" as the hymn says. And yet, Paul calls us saints, and reminds us in nearly every epistle that we are new creations who have died to sin and are alive unto God. So, I know that I am not perfect, that I am capable of thinking and doing bad things (remnants of the Fall), but that I am also "Jim in whom Christ dwells and delights" and that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I like the question, Kamie, and I love hearing your responses to the book. I worked long and hard for almost ten years on these books, so I love interacting with people who have comments or questions. Keep them coming!

Fri, May 14, 2010 @ 10:33 PM

6. janegal wrote:
amen Jim! thanks for stopping by...and lets remember that the idea of a blog is for everyone to comment on comments....not just me...or jim....!! i do have to say, after reading jim's response i am reminded how truly WISE he is...and how far i have to go....so glad he has taught me this is a process like pickling....it takes TIME...

Sat, May 15, 2010 @ 3:48 PM

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