I'm in the midst of reading Desiring God by John Piper.  I'm ashamed to admit that I started this book on the airplane here to Alaska back in July, and I'm only half-way through.  It really is not airplane reading material, I might add.  It doesn't read fast and easy like a Yancey or Strobel, but it is deep and intense.  It seems that every paragraph is worthy of being quoted.  I might mention, the book is subtitled, Meditations of a Christian Hedonist.  Christian Hedonist?  isn't that an oxymoron you may ask.  Piper sets out to describe how the whole duty of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.  Ultimate joy and happiness truly comes from glorifying God.  This is the theme of the book, Christian hedonism isn't an oxymoron, but truth, as seen in scripture.

I was reading chapter 4, and this paragraph really spoke to me:

...It is not that we are all trying to please ourselves, but that we are all far too easily pleased.  We do not believe Jesus when He says there is more blessedness, more joy, more lasting pleasure in life devoted to helping others than there is in a life devoted to our material comfort.  And therefore the longing of contentment which ought to drive us to simplicity of life and labors of love contents itself instead with the broken cisterns of prosperity and comfort.

 

Piper ends the chapter saying:

Love is the overflow of joy in God that meets the needs of others.

I've had a taste of that joy, the joy thats bursts forth when I am close to God, listening to His Word, and seeking His will above all else, the joy of serving others; but I desire to be filled with it, like the runner's high, that can only be experienced after much perseverence and training.  This same runners analogy is used in this text, Heb 12:2:

  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Obviously, since I haven't finished the book, this is not a summary or review of the entire book, nor do I intend to prove his points with scripture here in this blog.  Unlike some Christian books that may quote a scripture here and there, this book is built around scripture, examining it and meditating on it.  If interested, you can pick up a copy for yourself, but so far I'd recommend it, as it is very engaging and thought-provoking.