"God" Tales of Mere Existance [VIDEO]

I tend to feel like this guy is not being honest about his search for the answer to "Is God real?"

He has a very skewed philosophy on religion, and obviously no good theological understanding of Christianity.

Even though he says he hasn't made up his mind, it would seem he already has.

There are a lot of people like this, especially on the campus of public colleges. Its important to find people where they are at and help through these type of questions.

Overall this video gives a good understanding of what is going through the heads of many people, both Christian and non-Christian alike.

Maybe instead of hiding inside the walls of the church we should have honest conversations with people, like this guy.

Selling The Savior

I'm knee deep in a month long sales training class right now and it's gotten me thinking of the various ways people approach evangelism. Let me start off by saying the word, "evangelism" is very easily the ugliest word in the english language. As I've studied various sales tactics I learned a little more why that's the case.

The "Yes" Man

Have you ever been accosted by a salesman that just wants to tell you what you want to hear? They'll try to convince you the product you are contemplating buying will fix all of your problems. They'll make outrageous claims and grandiose promises just so they can swipe your card. They're even willing to lie a little about the product and paint it brighter than it actually is if that means you buy. The "Yes" man cannot say, "No."

Ever been to a church where the Pastor only shares success stories and Jesus sounds like a cure all for life's problems? Whenever you mention pain, loss, Japan, cancer, etc. they are quick to point to the warranty by stating, "You just need more faith." This kind of spirituality doesn't quite ring true. Even if we believe God is good, the world is still undeniably broken. We innately understand the sovereignty of God and that allows Him the freedom to say, "No."

Sales Goal Stress

Can I give you a little consumer pointer? Avoid retail stores toward the end of the month because that's when the sharks come out. Commission salesmen are fighting to make their quota and they can often become very aggressive in order to do so. They'll overcompensate by turning stress into excitement when you enter the door. Their eye is on their bonus or other salesmen rather than on what's best for the customer.

The fact is churches are closing faster than Blockbusters. Our postmodern world is becoming increasingly more skeptical toward organized religion and specifically Christianity. This can create in some an overcompensation of their faith. They drop 50,000 easter eggs from the sky and look past you as they shake your hand. The sales goal stress sets in as their turf erodes and an evangelist can't help but focus on the degradation of our nations morals rather than their' neighbor's sincere question. They'll become louder in public situations, and overly aggressive. They'll flex their morals like a juice head at the gym grunts to let you know how much weight they've lifted. It's about filling seats and getting notches on our convert belt. It's a relationship with an agenda. It's about being right and proving others wrong as they forget the Bible gently requests of us to think of others as better than ourselves(1)

No wonder evangelism has gained such an ugly reputation but I believe there is another way.

When the customer closes

There is an art to sales and a truly brilliant salesmen can be inspiring to watch. The good ones allow the customer to lead. A great salesmen will ask great questions, listen well, and then ask a follow up question. They have a quiet confidence in their knowledge of the product and you get to see glimpses of this if the need arises. The sign of a truly brilliant salesmen is when the customer asks, "So can I buy it?"

Imagine becoming this kind of evangelist? It would mean I would live a life so inspiring, gracious, generous, and loving that others would have to stop and take notice. I would have to walk with a kind of quiet confidence in God that meant Him and I spoke earlier that morning. I would have to be so utterly convinced that He likes me I would have no need to prove it. Forgiveness, compassion, and humility would have to become second nature. It must be refreshing to be around me. I must walk with an ever-present sense of hope, joy, and peace. I must not be the moral person you're grateful to have as a neighbor but don't really want to spend much time with. I must become the friend you call when you're in need because you know I'm not going to be too busy. I must not be good in the worst sense of the word. I must become grace in spilled perfume extravagance. You can never be a project to fix but always remain a person to be loved. I must not just say you are more important than me but actually believe you are more important than me. I must so fully illustrate the abundant life Jesus was always talking about that our relationship someday comes to the point when you say, "I'm sold."(2)

And my life would have already demonstrated the cost.

1. Philippians 2

2. Acts 16:30

A Glimpse of Modern Day Slavery (Part 2 of 2)

As I mentioned in the previous post, slavery is not over. Millions are being oppressed right under our noses in America, and an even greater number throughout the world. Slavery no longer resides in the cotton fields or in shacks, but its same old tricks still continue today. The lack of education, lack of independence for provision, and the continuation of human trafficking are just three ways that slavery has continued to exist, and need to be stopped.

Frederick Douglas, an escaped slave turned speaker for the abolitionist movement, wrote in his biography (found in the Norton Literature Anthology 7th ed. Vol. B) very powerful words about his experience between the connections of slavery and education. He tells of a story where his master rebuked his mistress for teaching Douglas to read. “Learning would spoil the best nigger in the world. Now, said he, if you teach that nigger (speaking of myself) how to read, there would be no keeping him.” (Douglas 2086). Douglas Points out that the oppression of slaves relied heavily upon the slaves being uneducated. This trend continues today. According to the 2002 Government Literacy Survey 85% of the American sample who completed 12 years or less of school (without graduating High school) cannot read a paragraph and answer questions on what they had read. (Level 2 proficiency pg 26).

We can also see how a link between the inability to provide for oneself can be an oppressive force. By needing to rely on another entity for food, shelter, and the basic necessities of life, this gives over complete control of the person’s life to the provider, making the person completely dependent upon the provider. According to the 2009 Census data as reported by the Washington post, 44 million people live below the poverty line in the United States. That is roughly 15% of the U.S. population or a little over 1 in 7 people that rely fully upon another agency to provide for their entire well-being. This in turn forces those recipients to be obliged to vote a certain way, or perform certain tasks to maintain their ability to survive.

Lastly, and perhaps the least well known of the listed forms of oppression is the continuation of the industry of buying and selling humans. No longer do those humans work in the field, but now they are confined to the bedrooms and households of their “owners.” As a Sacramento area resident I was appalled when the statistic was released that the Sacramento area is suspected of being within the top 5 largest areas for the underground sex trafficking. I don’t think I need to describe why this form of human trafficking is a form of slavery, but in every sense of the name, it is.

Although the whips and chains are gone, it is very apparent to see the mediums of slavery still very much alive in American culture, As Christians, it is our job to stop it! We had a war to get rid of the physical signs of bondage, so shouldn’t we be ready to once again fight for the freedom from oppression for the American people? Notice I only gave the statistics for problems in America where slavery is illegal, but when you view these types of injustices as slavery, it is hard not to broaden your scope.

How about the refusal to allow women an education in extremist territories in the Afghanistan and Pakistan? What about the starving people all throughout the African countries, or even the Asian countries? If we are appalled by sex trafficking statistics here, we couldn’t begin to think what they are like around the world. International Justice Mission reports that “over 2 million children are being exploited in the commercial sex industry.” I leave you with a bit for thought, If we were willing to go war to free the American people from this oppression, and should be up in arms at what is happening just in America, shouldn’t we as humans be willing to begin to free other parts of the world from the tyranny and oppression that holds them in bondage, or is the value of our dollar worth more than that person’s freedom?

If any of this has struck a chord, there are ways you can help. Go volunteer a day in a local elementary school or after school program, read to a child, or let a child read to you. Donate food in canned food drives, or organize one yourself. Be on the lookout for a way to help friends and neighbors in this hurting economy. Lastly, if you want to learn more about trafficking, I am no salesperson, but I absolutely encourage you to look at International Justice Mission and their website for more information.

Does the Bible Support Slavery? (Part 1 of 2 Part Post)

Often Christians are accused of using the Bible as an oppressive tool used by a theocratic population to hold down those who are different. Or something like that. We have all heard in history class how Christian Romans had slaves that built their empire to its greatness, how Crusaders took slaves from the many wars on their way to and from the Holy Land, and how the Bible was an oppressive tool used in the institution of American Slavery, due to it's mention of slaves and the need to obey their earthly masters. As Christians, we have vehemently fought against this notion, yet still stand extremely unclear of what the Bible really says, and what this really means for us today.

Where does the Bible really stand on the issue of slavery? It is clear that slavery was allowed and accepted in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. We can see that Exodus 21 lays out laws for buying a slave that is a Hebrew, and the conditions for their release on the 7th year. (It is important to note that Hebrews entered the bondage of slavery by choice, due to lack of ability to pay a debt, or provide for themselves.Today we would call this indentured servitude.)(Exodus 21:2). We then see a much harsher form of slavery meant for Gentiles, or anyone who was not of Hebrew descent, in Exodus 21:20, where masters are to be put to death if they kill their slaves, but it is permissible to knock them unconscious for 2-3 days. In Leviticus 25:46 it then says you can “gift them to your children as property.” We can then see that Paul addresses slaves in the New Testament. (Ephesians 6:5).

It is true that the Bible is full of commandments for slaves, but it is not as direct as it may seem. First, while the New Testament addresses slaves as a reality in society; it does not advocate the institution. Next, it is important to know that with the sacrifice of Christ, both Jews and Gentiles became reconciled before God. (Romans 10:12). Therefore the rules for Gentiles are out, since we are all God’s children only the institution of indentured servitude continues (under the laws for Hebrew slaves mentioned above.) Lastly, The Bible not only puts all men, of all origins, on the same level of equality before God, but goes one step further to ban slavery as we commonly perceive it. Exodus 21:16 says, “Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.” The American institution of slavery obviously violated this command with their endorsements of the slave traders, and the slave auctions. Since all men have been reconciled to equality in the sight of God, and become God's people, and this type of institution is specifically banned for God's people, it is apparent to see that this type of institution is in direct contrast with the Old Testament law. Even still, the New Testament is consistent with the Old Testament, 1Timothy 1:10 puts slave traders in the exact same boat as lawbreakers, and those who kill their fathers and mothers.

But the point is moot for Americans thanks to the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. All Americans are free and equal by the law of the land. The main question then becomes who cares? The answer is millions. Slavery is not over. Millions are still oppressed by a lack of education, lack of independent provision, and the buying and selling of human lives in America and abroad. It is our job as Christians to recognize that this form of slavery, this oppression, is not Biblically permissible, therefore giving us a moral obligation to stop this travesty in any way that conforms to Biblical law.

Are We Peter? Or Should We Be?

I have a friend, he's one of the smartest men I have ever met. He just happens to be gay. Because of his sexual preferences he has been scorned by many "Christians." So badly to the point where he doesn't want anything to do with Jesus.

Peter loved Jesus, no doubt about that. Even to the point of willingness to fight against Roman officials to keep Jesus from being taken away.

It is important to stand up for what we believe in, but there may be a difference in standing and fighting. 

There are people who want to learn about God, and are desperately looking for him, but are being cut off by well meaning Christians who are "fighting" for what they believe in.

Are you swinging the sword of God around so wildly that you cut off the ear of those God is trying to speak to?

Are your convictions more important than loving those around you?

The good news is that Jesus can heal the hearts of those who have been hurt by the church, just as he did the guard that had his ear cut off by Peter.

But as Christians we should live our lives in a way that makes it easier for people to love and know God, not harder.


Thoughts? Please spread the word, and share:

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Conflicting Assumptions

Question: What was your favorite worship song today? Why is it meaningful to you?
Answer: It doesn't matter which song is anyone's favorite. It's all about worshiping our Heavenly Father.

What's going on between these two people? There seem to be conflicting opinions about worship, that much is obvious. Look a little deeper and you can see some assumption taken by both individuals. The questioner is assuming that someone will think like they have about worship songs in terms of preference along a sliding scale of personal value and meaning. The answerer may, by context of the forum (in church from an official publication) in which the question was raised, assume that the questioner is looking for a certain type of answer--polling which songs were most popular.
The answerer then reacted to their own assumption (rather than the question itself) by addressing the underlying issue of defining the mysterious quality of worship. Thus, the answerer does not supply in their answer a logical answer formed out of great consideration and weighing of thought. The answerer responds emotionally to an instinctively perceived assumption. Why? I must assume they have already given thought to worship in this context and arrived at an emotional evaluation, which has colored their response with the pigments of truth--not some canned response formulated to be safe, but genuine and heartfelt meaning.
Perhaps they don't want anyone to spend a moment planning or formalizing what is supposed to be an organic gathering of hearts and souls around time dedicated to God. Or perhaps they are afraid that some songs will be taken out of the mix because they aren't popular enough, and they're trying to communicate that it is a waste of energy to spend more time figuring out which songs will be popular than actually working to experience God's power. Whatever the reasons, it's clear that there is perceived conflict of paradigms.

So what should we do in the face of such unexpected, bald-faced responses like this?
(1) First, I think we need to start expecting them. What I mean is we need to foster an environment where honesty and transparency are allowed to exist, then check our own defensive knee-jerk reactions so that we learn to carefully analyze the reasons behind an honest answer. There is truth everywhere if you're willing to work at its excavation, and I believe the rewards are great for those who will invest themselves in putting others ahead of themselves. If I am the questioner in this example, I need to allow the answerer to be right.
(2) Second, I think we need to act on feedback. If people know their feedback is actually considered and implemented in some way, they will be more likely to do any or all of four things:

1. Feel valued.
2. Feel integrated.
3. Provide more feedback.
4. Help others to feel valued, integrated, and encouraged to disclose their own thoughts.
   

So what do you think?

The Skeptics Easter Egg

by Kyle Reynolds

Solving for X [Guest Post]

Frederick Buechner writes about church-speak in a way I’ve always liked — he calls it “Algebraic Preaching”:

"X + Y = Z. If you know the value of one of the letters, you know something. If you know the value of two, you can probably figure out the whole thing. If you don't know the value of any, you don't know much.
Preachers tend to forget this. 'Accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and be saved from your sins,' or something like that, has meaning and power and relevance only if the congregation has some notion of what, humanly speaking, sin is, or being saved is, or who Jesus is, of what accepting him involves.
If preachers make no attempt to flesh out these words in terms of everyday human experience (maybe even their own) but simply repeat with variations the same old formulas week after week, then the congregation might just as well spend Sunday morning at home with the funnies."

His words have come to mind often during my halting attempts to start going to church again. Sincere in our faith but frustrated with church culture, my husband Justin and I stepped away for a while and it’s been years since our church-every-Sunday insider days.
About 4 years ago as newlyweds, Justin and I started going to a couples’ small group in hopes of finding a faith community where we could be ourselves. Everyone was really nice, but we struggled to get past the language barrier sometimes. Everything felt familiar, and yet, so bizarre. Déjà vu-ey.

One of the most awkward moments came one day when our group’s leader asked Justin what the purpose of marriage is. Justin’s usually a pretty private dude, so the depth of his answer surprised me. “Um, I think it’s a lot of things: companionship, a support system, encouraging each other’s dreams, love, having grace for each other, growing as an individual as well as together...”

Our leader replied, “Well, I think it’s about Jesus.”

Boom! Things have just gotten spiritual, people! About Jesus. It was clear our leader thought his answer was very different than Justin’s while I thought they were the same.

Another person chimed in with a breezy, “Marriage is for the glorification of God.”
I was curious what they meant, so I asked. I received blank looks in response. It felt like everyone in the room knew what X was, except me. I felt more alienated than ever — maybe I’d have been better off with the funnies.
***

This probably wouldn’t bother me all that much, except that during my church insider days I’m sure I said plenty of X-ish sorts of things without ever thinking much about it. Worse, as a church intern/worship leader, I had a microphone in my hand much of the time.

Ouch.

Even as I’m quick to cringe these days at church-speak, I’m haunted by the painful awareness that at times I reduced the vast mysteries of God’s mercy to some clichéd Christian catch-phrase.

I didn’t do it on purpose — no one does — I did it because it was comfortable. I used the words that everyone else used. Only problem was that none of us knew what they meant anymore, least of all me. The truth behind the words — good words like “grace” and “salvation” and “worship” — remained elusive.

Going beyond X and Y — putting stumbling words to our messy, murky, very human journey of faith and doubt — well, that’s a lot more vulnerable than most of us are willing to get a lot of the time. But if ever something was needed, it’s this kind of grappling with what we mean by these sacred words we use.

Yeah, it’s risky. We sound a lot less sure of ourselves. It doesn’t always make for a nicely-packaged Sunday sermon.

 But for the folks who show up to Sunday morning or to small group or to a coffee shop or to a bar to feel comfortable enough to share their own messy words, we have to go there.

For my friends — who have heard an awful lot of X or worse — I have to go there.

My 3-month-old Asher will someday ask me who Jesus is and why he matters. If ever there was a thought that keeps me trying to learn how to talk about faith authentically, that’s it.

Beyond all that, I need to keep striving to know what X means for myself. I may never reach a place where I can use all the right words to explain it, and I’ll probably make a fool out of myself many times over. But the clichés aren’t enough, they never were, and I find these wobbly new conversations infinitely more satisfying.

So . . . what are some of the things you’ve either said, or heard others say, that could use a little fleshing out? Ready, go.

About the Writer:
Stacey Lawlis lives near Seattle with her partner-in-crime Justin and their sweet boy, Asher. During naptime, she moonlights as a copywriter and web designer. She is fascinated by Jesus, true love, motherhood, Wilco, ketchup, and Starbucks — and is happy to have a rambly conversation about any of those things anytime. http://lawlisness.com

The Now - Antenna

Do we really have the ability to hear God?

Is that even possible?

Death by Checklist

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.
John 10:10,18

I just wanted to share a brief encouragement for all of us who find ourselves in a constant struggle to allow God to fully penetrate our lives, actions, decisions, thoughts, words, emotional states, work, and space. I've often been discouraged from loving Christ fully because the weight of expectations on my shoulders made Christianity feel like more of a slavery than a vibrant explosion of love and grace. If you want to be a "good Christian" you don't have to ask around very much in your church to find out what it takes.
The checklist in your community probably looks something like this:

1. Read your Bible every day, at least once a day
2. Pray every day, "without ceasing"
3. Get baptized
4. Attend church consistently, regularly, and on time
5. Bring other people to church and get them to attend consistently
6. Tithe 10% regularly, and give offerings above that as much as possible
7. Go on a mission trip
8. Volunteer to help decorate, set up, tear down, paint, repair, greet, fold, or whatever there is to do at your church
9. Dress nice (we're meeting with God, right?)
10. Smile
11. Have a family that does all of these things

It's kind of gotten out of hand, right? First, I want to address this list, and then I'll conclude with my exhortation.

1. Hardly anyone reads their Bible consistently every day, especially people who have been Christians for a while.
2. No one's prayer habits carry on like a steady train rolling down the tracks incapable of being stopped. Each new season of life carries its own impetus for reminding us to pray, especially times of trouble, but other seasons allow our minds to wander away from this discipline.
3. You don't have to get baptized to be saved. You also should not get baptized in order to please your church leaders. It needs to be genuinely because you are ready to publicly dedicate your life to Christ, not as a sign of societal protest or to attract attention to yourself, but to invite those around you to hold you accountable to the way of Christ--whether those witnesses are Christian or not.
4. "Church" the way most people use the term in our society refers to a time of gathering which includes a musical display of worship, a few announcements, and a message or sermon. But this isn't in the Bible. The only thing we see that Jesus wants us to do is love each other and bring outsiders into his love. Maybe we should worry more about the people we're close to, and the people who need Christ's love (often at inconvenient moments) than getting to service on time (or at all, as the case may sometimes be).
5. Have we traded genuine Christian discipleship as commanded by Jesus in Matthew 28:19 for a cheap invitation to a weekly event? Do we think bringing someone to a program is going to change their life? Let's remember that the love of Christ isn't looking for attendance points, but acts of love and investment in the lives of those who need to learn about him.
6. You should allow God to use your resources, especially the financial resources, because it causes you to trust him and rely on his wisdom above your own. But if you find yourself griping about how you'd rather use that money as you drop it in the basket, then you should just stop. If God gets the same treatment in your heart and mind as a deadbeat relative, then your gifts are actually causing your heart to despise God rather than love and glorify him. Stop giving until you can love him again.
7. You don't have to go to another country to prove you love Jesus, or to feel like you've fulfilled the Great Commission. It's not about foreign ministry, but your neighbors. And let's be honest, it gets expensive to travel to other countries. So why do that to your pocketbook (and your family) just to elevate your status in the life of your church community? If you can swing it and have the opportunity to go, then you should go and experience it. But it's not like God can't use you in your country of origin.
8. Volunteer, but don't get caught up in serving a building so much that you never serve people. Mow old ladies' lawns, bake cookies for new neighbors (which requires noticing when new people move into the neighborhood), and offer to help friends solve problems. We don't need fresh paint or smooth traffic flow in the parking lot as much as we need people who care for each other and embody Christ's love.
9. Forget dressing up for church. Forget dressing down for church. Just dress like you. Bring yourself in all of your regularness and selfness to God. If you physically practice putting on a "face" for church, you'll start spiritually putting on a "face" as well. If the people in your church community can't accept the regular you, then it's time to have a sit-down and ask whether Jesus makes such demands of those who come to him.
10. Smile. It's good for you. Even if you're feeling down, a physical smile can at least bring you up to feeling neutral. All things being equal though, don't smile and say everything is fine when it's not. If there was ever a place you should be able to bare all and be transparent, it should be in the church. And if you can't do that at your church, then it's time for another sit-down and possibly time to look for another community where you are free to tell people you had a terrible week. A smile should be an expression of genuine emotion, whether of overflowing joy or peaceful relief to see friendly faces. It should never become your prison.
11. You can't control other people--only yourself. And let's be honest, you even struggle with controlling yourself, don't you? It's okay. No matter how hard you work to teach your kids to follow God, they will still make their own choices. I know well respected pastors with tremendous wisdom who had two kids enter ministry and one kid enter prison. So why should anyone else be expected to have it all together? Don't let anyone expect you to magically have a "perfect" family because they don't exist.

Most of the time your own self-expectations are weighty enough without adding that of others, but it's not enough to learn to live without the weight of other people's expectations on your shoulders. It's not enough just to shirk off others. We have to constantly keep our heart in love with all these people, whether they deserve it or not. 

1. So may you learn to prioritize things the way Christ teaches through what is recorded in the Bible (that's why we read it).
2. May you rely on God to provide you strength to forgive people who offend, hurt, and betray you; as well as to invite his wisdom as you hope for the best in their lives as well as your own (that's why we pray).
3. May you be continually baptized as your selfish nature dies and you allow Christ to resurrect in you a nature that craves and loves what God creates and loves, both in private moments and moments of great public weight (that is what baptism is).
4. May you remember often and spend time with those who you need to be sharpened by, as well as those who need to be sharpened by you (that is what church is).
5. May your purpose and love so fill your life that others are healed by it and drawn to Christ who fills and heals you (that is what evangelism is).
6. May you never lack, but if you do may you draw closer to God because of it, and may you give generously because of love for Christ who gave all (that is what tithing is for).
7. May your perspective be broadened by an experience with people who live and think differently within the same love of God, and may you grow in love as you serve those with whom you can barely communicate (that is what mission trips are for).
8. May your love for Christ manifest outwardly as you volunteer your time and energy in serving everyone around you just as Christ made himself available to everyone who needed help (that is why we volunteer).
9. May you wear your personality outwardly, whether poor, flamboyant, or plain as you love yourself and others just as God loves you--without any pretenses (for all he wants to see are his children).
10. May joy rise in your soul, and may honesty dwell there, that you not only be filled with joy but share burdens with others who need to know they're not alone (it is because we know we are not alone or hopeless that joy can create a smile).
11. And may your love for Christ spread through all who spend any amount of time with you. And may the love of Christ teach you to forgive yourself and find healing in his arms when things don't go as you hoped.

Memorable Moments [From the Archive]

This post originally posted on November 2nd 2010 and still serves as a great reminder to all:

Today was a good day.

Today was a day full of memorable moments, the good and the bad. Church planting conference gave me the opportunity to meet with other people that are passionate about the things that fuel me; had an argument with the girlfriend, which ended up in a good discussion and the ability to love each other better; and a great time with friends at Issaquah Brew House where we had the opportunity to talk about memorable moments.

My pastor, Kyle Reynolds, is preaching a message called “Story” which has the premise that, “the things that make up a good story are the same components that make up a good life.”

It makes me think how often I decide to just sit down and watch TV/play Halo, rather than do something different. When I reflect on the things I have done in my life I don't think about the hours I have spent playing video games and watching TV, I think about the times when my family was able to get together for dinner at Ruth’s Chris, or when my Dad would take me golfing, or even when my brother and I thought it would be a great idea to climb on our roof and shoot our airsoft guns at the neighbor kids.

There are opportunities in life to make the mundane magical, in our lives and in the lives of those around us, and the measure of a great life is how many of those opportunities we act upon.

Lets choose to write a great story with our lives.

Top Posts of March

1. God is not a Republican

"I humbly ask you to think about if your outspoken political views are helping, or hurting the kingdom of Christ."

2. Is Rob a Heretic? Book Review: LOVE WINS by Rob Bell

"The overwhelming theme of his work here, to which he devotes most of his arguments and discussion, is that our actions and choices matter infinitely more than we have ever imagined."

3. Check....Check....God, can you hear us?

"But let's not kid ourselves when we have a synchronized light show with our music and call that worship."

Follow up Post 

4. Hey Haters, I Hate Your Theology

"Sometimes its easier to find the love of Christ outside of a church than inside... Theology is Sometimes Good, but Love is Always Better"


Video of Steve Furtick that ignited the thoughts of this post

5. Blockbuster - An Uncomfortable Parable

"3500 churches are closing each year. I'm just trying to figure out what our Netflix will look like."