Thursday, April 14, 2011

Is Hell Dead?


In the below Time article about Rob Bell and his latest 'controversial' read, "Love Wins", I spotted the quote below and thought it was fantastic because, once again, I feel that, regardless of whether I agree or disagree with Bell, he treats me like the ADULT Child of God that I am rather then a spoon fed infant to often assumed upon believers...


Bell insists he is only raising the possibility that theological rigidity — and thus a faith of exclusion — is a dangerous thing. He believes in Jesus' atonement; he says he is just unclear on whether the redemption promised in Christian tradition is limited to those who meet the tests of the church. It is a case for living with mystery rather than demanding certitude.


Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2065080,00.html#ixzz1JXHyi13h

Is it okay to live with mystery as a Christian? We seem okay with it when we quote C.S Lewis and relate God to a dangerous Lion... and we seem okay with suggesting that God is bigger then any one individual can comprehend, so why do we get all hysterical when one man asks some questions? Why does it seem we freak when a discussion is kicked off about a potentially grey area in the Bible?

I have plenty of questions still, thousands, regarding God, Jesus and the Bible... but I am okay with that because I know God has it sorted and that he is still taking questions, and involved in my personal journey of discovery when it comes to who He is and who I am. I like that I don't have it all figured out, because it prompts me to get involved with Him and His Church so we can figure it out together.

But what happens when the Church cuts you off when you can't figure something out?

If I weren't a Christian and I was looking at this from the outside I would make the assumption that the Church is extremely insecure... just sayin'.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Wouldn't it be nice....



Have read a couple of blogs and watched a couple of interviews about and with Rob Bell's latest book "Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived." and I have gotta say it is really horrible the way people are attacking its author.

Heck, if you don't agree with what the book is saying - you're allowed, but where is the love? From all I have read and seen of Bell he always seems to operate with honesty, integrity and humility.

That, my friends, is Christ-like...

Writing anonymous, slanderous comments and posts about the man is not.

You are allowed to disagree. But not to hate.

wouldn't it be nice if the church could get together and be okay with some of the areas that are a little grey? Wouldn't it be nice if we could be of one heart and one spirit, even when we disagree?

Instead we still seem to spend so much time hating each other rather then loving one another, as the word commands. We'll get there...

Have a read of of this little article - the title suggests Bell "punches back" but I say he responds in a well measured and very humble manner...

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Couple of interesting Reads...

Hey guys - read these two pieces over the last couple of days and thought they were interesting. I am not sure how to interpret either or how the thoughts presented in these articles may impact the 'living out' of my faith and relationship with Jesus as yet but I may keep you up to date...

Article 1: JC and the cool gang





Article 2: Things the Church can learn from Tim Minchin

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

tequila...




"When it comes to tequila, I plead ignorance. If I’m lucky to be in the hands of a knowledgeable bartender or agave enthusiast, I happily let him/her guide me toward whatever’s right for a given cocktail (be it a traditional margarita or a Jaguar) or neat nightcap with beer chaser. But when I find myself confronting, without a lifeline, that overgrown jungle of tequila bottles on the back bar of your modern-day high-end Mexican restaurant, I balk — especially when the bartender can only describe what’s in each bottle with various synonyms for “awesome.”"

Above is a great blog exert from Drinkcboston.com for anyone who enjoys tequila but has no idea what they're on about. I will be putting this knowledge to good use at Mamasita's today over lunch... for the entrire article click here.

Thursday, February 3, 2011