Ahh, childhood memories.
During our recent move, I found this little memento from my past, pictured to the left.
When we were children, my brother and I were baking mud pies is this little tin stove. Sounds innocent enough, right? The problem is, this culinary undertaking took place in my father’s corn crib.
The fire we so wisely built on the floor of a wooden structure, destroyed, of course, said containment system. Who would have seen that coming?!?!?
Just one of the many delightful playtime activities my brother and I engaged in.
We were so cute.
Little Tin Stove November 9, 2009
My Review of “Through Painted Deserts” November 6, 2009
This is my 3rd Donald Miller book. I must say, it’s my least favorite of the three. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying it’s bad. It’s actually quite good. I just liked the other two better.
In “Through Painted Deserts” Donald chronicles a road trip he took with a friend in a beat up VW van. The main destination was the Grand Canyon. There were, of course, plenty of adventures before and after. They lived in this van. They slept in the van, and in the woods, and wherever they could.
I can somewhat identify with the story. In the 70’s I took a trip to the Grand Canyon with two other guys and a girl. The four of us, and all our camping gear, in a Vega! Yeah. Fun. Well, I think they all enjoyed it. Me, not so much.
Anyway, this is that kind of story. Miller makes many observations of life and Christian spirituality, just probably not as many as in his two previous works.
“I’ve learned that I don’t really know much about anything. Life is not a story about me, but it is being told to me. I think that is the ‘why’ of this ancient faith I am caught up in: to enjoy God.” – Donald Miller -
So, I do recommend this book, but only after “Searching For God Knows What,” and certainly after “Blue Like Jazz.” If you get through those two, and still want more Donald Miller, then read “Through Painted Deserts.
I’m looking forward to his latest, “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.” Hey, it’s even got Steve Taylor in it. That should up the sarcasm!
– dave
Hatred Knows No Bounds November 6, 2009
[I've posted various things about hatred and abuse directed toward those in the GLBT community. It continues to sicken me. However, of course, GLBTs are just as capable of hatred as anyone else. It is, without Christ, the human condition. While I'm not fond of the "ex-gay" moniker (or most other labels), I thought this article had useful information, and needed to be passed on. I am totally in opposition to much, if not most, of what comes out of the religious-right camp, but hate from the GLBT community is no more tolerable than all the disgusting hate from right-wing evangelicals. -- dave.]
WorldNetDaily Exclusive
Hate Crimes Against Ex-Gays
Now it’s EX-’gays’ getting pummeled
Verbal to violent, attacks rise against former homosexuals
By Bob Unruh
Homosexual activist groups long have denied that ex-”gays” exist and have charged those ministries that work with the needs of those desiring to leave the lifestyle are fraudulent. One such activist even recently attributed the crime of rape to the “sickness” of the ex-”gay” movement.
But some attacks on those who have left the lifestyle, or are trying to, go far beyond verbal denigration, according to those who have experienced it, including Joe and Marion Allen. Their son Bart was in the process of leaving the homosexual lifestyle in 2001 when the “gay” with whom he’d shared an apartment strangled and killed him.
The Allens now run a ministry called Hope for the Broken Heart and they have spoken at conferences for the ex-”gay” ministry Exodus International simply because they cannot be silent about the tragedy in their family, and they want to help others avoid a similar result.
“He [Bart] was in the process of trying to come away from this, and was just involved with a sick, sick man,” Mrs. Allen told WND. “He was wanting help. He did not understand his feelings and we certainly did not understand his feelings.
“Thank goodness our child was a believer… [showing that being gay is not at all indicative of being non-Christian -ed]
While violence rising to the level of homicide is not reported a great deal, the lower levels of harassment and badgering are growing, according those who have experienced or witnessed it.
Among recent situations that have developed in the ongoing argument over the ‘innateness” on homosexuality:
Officials at a New England organization have reported that members of a transgender lobby have promised to shadow grandmothers and others who will be collecting petition signatures on a traditional marriage amendment plan this summer.
Actions by members of the homosexual community recently prompted the American Psychiatric Association to cancel what was to be a discussion of the lifestyle.
And prominent leaders of the homosexual community have stated that only they benefit from hate crimes laws…
“I guess you never get over things, of course, but it has been almost seven years. We still cry.” – Marion Allen.
Regina Griggs, the executive director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays, said her organization and staff members repeatedly have been attacked simply because of their message: that there are such individuals as former homosexuals.
Some attacks have been physical, such as the 2007 incident at the Arlington County Fair.
There, police told WND, there was a confrontation between an individual who got upset over the PFOX message about leaving homosexuality and a volunteer at the fair booth.
“One officer told me today he was on patrol at the fair when a woman approached him and told him a man had knocked over pamphlets at the PFOX booth and assaulted another man there. The officer then spoke to the alleged victim. He did not want to press charges and therefore no written report was filed,” said a statement issued by John Lisle, media relations officer for the Arlington County police department.
“Based on the description the officer was given, he located the suspect at the fair. Another officer escorted that gentleman off the fair grounds,” his statement continued.
[Since no charges were filed] activists vigorously condemned Griggs for “making up” the story when she alerted supporters about the situation.
“Regina Griggs has lost all credibility and must resign in shame for her dishonest behavior,” wrote [one individual], [from the] group Truth Wins Out. “What PFOX did was warped, twisted and an insult (sic) real hate crime victims.”
Griggs said at the time, “They became infuriated when our ex-gay volunteers testified about leaving homosexuality. … One gay man went so far as to hit our ex-gay volunteer because he refused to recant his ex-gay testimony.”
Griggs said her most recent application for an event was returned to her unopened. NEA and PTA officials refused to respond to WND requests for comment on their censorship policies.
The question was raised: “Why is it that the term ‘ex-gay’ so threatens the gay community?”
“…there are others who … endeavor to attack the ex-gay community. Consequently, ex-gays are subject to an increasingly hostile environment where they are reviled or attacked as perpetrators of hate and discrimination simply because they dare to exist,” Griggs said.
[Closing note: Please understand this article is not posted to speak to the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of reparative therapy. I am not saying I am in agreement with all the actions or tactics of Exodus or PFOX. This post speaks ONLY to the issue of hate and violence perpetrated against those who chose to investigate change as an option. - dave]
…And I Feel Fine November 3, 2009
I’ve just finished reading another article about the year 2012. Here we go again. I’m so tired of this crap.
So many were sure the year 2000 would do us all in. Y2K had the country worrying about computer crashes bringing the world to a technological end, if not a complete end. I remember telling people I thought 2000 would come and go just like every other year. It did.
I think people, for some reason, like instilling fear. It’s like some kind of perverse game. Just look at the dozens of ”Beware” of this-or-that emails forwarded. Ninety-nine percent of these are sheer fabrication. People just blindly forward them on, without checking them out. I especially hate the ones that falsely include the tag “I checked this out on Snopes, and it’s legit.” Well, I check them out on Snopes, and they’re usually NOT legit. Forwarding these things is a total act of irresponsibility. So is using scare tactics involving the calendar.
How many hundreds of years of false predictions will it take for people to wake up? Remember “88 Reasons Why The Rapture Will Be In ‘88?” I think they’ve had one every year since. In my research, I found a list of failed end-of-the-world predictions, starting in AD 30. Sextus Julius Africanus had predicted Armageddon at 500 AD. Charles Wesley predicted 1794. On and on and on.
Some Christians seem to wear this paranoia like a badge of honor; like it somehow serves or pleases God. I’m convinced it certainly does not. If anything, it detracts from the central message of Jesus.
Jesus said “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Over and over Jesus teaches that the kingdom is here. The kingdom is now. We are the kingdom people. We are God’s house. We are the new Jerusalem. It’s not about the “sweet by and by.” (By the way, show me where ‘heaven’ has streets of gold.)
Could 2012 be “the end of the world as we know it?” Sure. So could tomorrow. But concern over the end of the world gives us the wrong focus. This all distracts from how we are to treat other people. It distracts from how we are to treat the earth. After all, the world’s going to end soon, so who cares if I dump my trash in the street! It takes our minds off of important things, like social injustice, hunger, and other areas where we are to be the “salt of the earth.” It ignores, or worse, violates the part of Jesus’ prayer that says “on earth as it is in heaven.”
How are we to live today? The answer to that question shouldn’t change whether the world ends in 2012, or tomorrow, or ten-thousand years from tomorrow.
–dave
Everything Is Spiritual November 1, 2009
“In the Hebrew language, there is no word for “spiritual.” If you would have said to Jesus, “Jesus, how is your spiritual life?” He would have said “What?” To label part of your life as “spiritual” and part as “not spiritual” is foreign to the world of scripture, and to the worldview of Jesus.”
- Rob Bell
This stuff is absolutly amazing!
You won’t want to miss any of the 8 videos in this presentation.
Watch it HERE ON YOUTUBE.
or you can buy it HERE AT LIFEWALK STORE.
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Some reviews:
Michael J. Cauller says:
Who would have thought that a lecture on Creation stories and Quantum Physics would be so instrumental in conveying the truth of a holistic perspective of spirituality? I’d say that Nooma is like a piece of candy and this is like a steak dinner. Brilliant stuff. Excellent revelation as one would expect.
Christopher Bernard says:
Rob Bell has received a great deal of criticism in his career for a variety of reasons. Some might have some merit, but most come out a desire for him to be something he is not. He is not a world class Biblical Scholar; he is not the greatest theological mind; he is not a person that will champion conservative ideologies, nor liberal. If you desire any of these things from this man, do not buy his work for you will be disappointed.
But if you are looking for a thoughtful person engaging with faith, culture, and life, then you might have found someone that will really speak to you in a refreshing confession of Christian faith.
Rob Bell is a pastor with a heart for humanity. He is a person that desires to unite, rather than divide. He is a person who recognizes the burden of our society and addresses them in faithful ways and “Everything Is Spiritual” is a wonderful testimony of God at work within Humanity.
I was blessed to watch this. And I trust that those who have ears to hear will come away from this experience moved in profound ways.
Watch it HERE ON YOUTUBE.
or you can buy it HERE AT LIFEWALK STORE.
Here’s John Sexton’s review of live presentation of “Everything Is Spiritual” at The Glass House:
The Glass House is a small concert venue in a little artists’ colony section of downtown Pomona. It’s surrounded by vintage clothing boutiques and used record stores. Usually it’s host to punk bands, but on this Wednesday night a somewhat different crowd had turned out to see a young pastor from Michigan named Rob Bell.
Our Ticketmaster tickets ($10) read “Door: 7PM Show: 8PM.” My two friends and I arrived a bit after seven and found the place already packed. Nearly 350 people sat on folding chairs facing a corner stage. The stage was black except for a huge whiteboard about four feet tall running the length of the stage, perhaps 16 feet. A few white lights were shining on it, making it appear to glow slightly.
As 8PM approached someone came on stage to ask us to turn off our cell phones and to let us know that tonight’s performance was being filmed. A few minutes later the mood music that had been playing in the background became louder, adding to the concert-like atmosphere of the show. Finally, Rob Bell stepped on stage dressed all in black. He uncapped his marker dramatically and we were off…
He began with a ten minute discussion of Genesis chapter one, treating it as Hebrew poetry. He paused once to emphasize his underlying principle of interpretation, i.e. “the Bible is not a science text book.” If there were young earth creationists in the room, they decided not to throw vegetables at that moment.
At one point, he pantomimed Adam naming the animals God brought before him. When Adam named one “cat” God’s reaction was “Hey, I didn’t make that.” It was one of the lighter moments in the message. Rob then made this aside: “Someone out there with a blog, please don’t write that I hate cats. There’ll be demonstrators at the next show.” So while it was extremely tempting to title this post “Rob Bell Hates Cats”, I resisted.
The second and longest part of Rob’s talk was, in fact, about science. From quarks and strings to the vast universe itself, he covered an enormous amount of ground. I have a background in this material, so I listened with an awareness not only of where he was going, but also where he might have gone. The impression I had was of watching some agile person cross a river by leaping from stone to stone. At times he would slow his progress to draw out a tricky point, such as quantum entanglement or the stellar habitable zone. At other times he would skip lightly over issues too complex to engage in an abbreviated way, such as the differing interpretations of quantum theory. But always it seemed to me he dealt accurately and fairly with the material. It was an outstanding 20-25 minute summary of modern physics. It was a setup for a point he would make later.
Next, he turned to the issue of perspective. Using Flatland characters, he discussed how God’s interaction with our world may be difficult to understand in everyday language. This is where the “emergent view” of all things theological came across most strongly. Is God Calvinist or Armenian? Rob suggests there may be a way for him to be both.
I recognize that answers like this will never satisfy those who’ve invested any energy in either of the alternatives. And I probably enjoy a good theological argument as much as the next person. Still, I found Bell’s appeal to lay down our theological arms quite winning. There are simply some issues where the Bible stands in tension with itself. Perhaps this too is inspired and should be respected. At times I get the sense that the seminary-denominational complex has an institutional investment in keeping the arguments going. In any case, this was probably my favorite section of the talk.
Having loaded his plate with literally “everything”, Rob now had the unenviable task of summing it up neatly. If his conclusion wasn’t fully successful it’s worth pointing out that few pastors would even have the courage to try.
And there was a theme that came through, a single thread on which all the beads of science and theology were strung. We live in a very big world and yet its one in which our perspective has the ability to shift our understanding of everything. Is the universe an accident or a work of design? The truth is it could be either. Is theology confusing because it’s imperfect or because our language is insufficient? Again, it could be either.
Is anything spiritual or is nothing? Rob suggests that as Christians we must choose everything. It’s this perspective that changes what we see. We move forward through life with the anticipation — the faith — that God is not absent, that he may indeed be hiding in plain sight.
I don’t know if Rob Bell has read Roy Clouser’s The Myth of Religious Neutrality, but he certainly seems to have adopted Clouser’s ideas on the religious control of theory-making. In any case, Rob’s presentation of it is a lot of fun. If there’s one person I’d like to have a chance to have a long talk with at some point, he has to be near the top of the list.
Watch it HERE ON YOUTUBE.
or you can buy it HERE AT LIFEWALK STORE.
On Bible Inerrancy October 28, 2009
Some points made by Jim Denison:
The word “inerrancy” has been defined and qualified in too many different and highly technical ways to be of any theological use; therefore, we ought to prefer to speak of the “trustworthiness” or “authority” of the Bible.
The concept of inerrancy, since it is applied exclusively to the original Bible manuscripts, actually undermines the faith of believers in their own copies of the Bible.
Inerrancy is a recent doctrinal innovation not shared by those in Christian history whom we ought to emulate—that it is not among our theological “roots.”
Rather than the denial of inerrancy’s leading to other heresies, the affirmation of inerrancy leads to unwarranted divisiveness.
Inerrancy is a philosophical position not supported by the statements of the Bible itself.
The Bible actually is not inerrant; therefore, to apply the test of inerrancy to the Bible is to set the Bible up to fail at a test that it does not and would not apply to itself, and thereby to undermine one’s belief in the “trustworthiness” of the Bible.
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Nowhere in scripture does the bible refer to itself as “the word of God.”
The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and his name is Jesus.
–df
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For more on this subject, go to Now_Read_This.
What Must I Do To Be Saved? October 26, 2009
What must I do to be saved?
Jesus responded to ONE man by saying “…you must be born again.” (Jn. 3:7)
Jesus responded to ONE man by saying “…sell everything you own, and give the proceeds to the poor.” (Luke 18:22)
To one man, there was no mention of giving.
To one man, there was no mention of being born again.
Two seekers. Two responses.
We have made one response a requirement.
We have made one response a nice idea.
One response has had thousands of books written about it, and has been made into a doctrinal staple.
One response has been explained away, and pretty much ignored.
People will quickly say you must be born again because “Jesus said so!”
Really? It seems Jesus said a lot of things that we do not make requirements.
Context? That’s certainly important, but are there really any contextual
differences here that would make one of these statements “necessary for
salvation,” and not the other?
Still other Biblical authors gave different instructions.
Peter indicated you must be baptized. (Acts 2:38)
What must I do to be saved?
Breathe Deep October 16, 2009
Breathe Deep (The Breath of God) – the Lost Dogs.
I’ve loved this song for years. It’s really what life is all about.
The Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnaZlwme8Sw
The Lyrics:
(Music and lyrics by Terry Taylor)
Politicians, morticians, Philistines, homophobes
Skinheads, Dead heads, tax evaders, street kids
Alcoholics, workaholics, wise guys, dim wits
Blue collars, white collars, war mongers, peace nicks
Chorus
Breathe deep
Breathe deep the Breath of God
Breathe deep
Breathe deep the Breath of God
Suicidals, rock idols, shut-ins, drop outs
Friendless, homeless, penniless and depressed
Presidents, residents, foreigners and aliens
Dissidents, feminists, xenophobes and chauvinists
Chorus
Evolutionists, creationists, perverts, slum lords
Dead-beats, athletes, Protestants and Catholics
Housewives, neophytes, pro-choice, pro-life
Misogynists, monogamists, philanthropists, blacks and whites
Chorus
Police, obese, lawyers, and government
Sex offenders, tax collectors, war vets, rejects
Atheists, Scientists, racists, sadists
Biographers, photographers, artists, pornographers
Chorus
Gays and lesbians, demagogues and thesbians
The disabled, preachers, doctors and teachers
Meat eaters, wife beaters, judges and jurys
Long hair, no hair, everybody everywhere!
Chorus
Gay Believers October 14, 2009
The term “gay believers” freaks out a lot of fundamentalists. For me, to acknowledge there are gay believers is no harder than to acknowledge there are Catholic believers, or Methodist believers, or Seventh Day Adventist believers, or believers who smoke or eat red meat, or believe in the rapture. Acknowledging that someone is a Christian does not mean I necessarily agree with all their beliefs. It simply means that God accepts us where we are. After that, we all, whoever we are, start a journey of change. What change, and what direction that change takes, is up to God.
Livin’ For The Bell October 7, 2009
Livin’ for the bell – like a fighter that fell
When ya leave it’s just as well
Coz your heart’s not in it when you’re livin’ for the bell
– Greg X Voltz
One of the major problems with modern evangelicals is the over-focus on “later.”
The vast majority of Jesus’ teachings on the kingdom of God were for the “here and now.”
– dave
Here’s a blast from the past. I used to have this LP:
