My Small Corner

Best Christian Response Ever!

Finally someone who gets it.

Some of the best lines:  "It's kind of funny," Driscoll said. "They're showing up on the Sunday where the story is, Jesus loved a really bad guy, and the religious people stood around and protested."

"This False Prophet and His Blind Lemmings Welcome You to Our Whore House for God's Grace and Free Donuts,"

For the second time in my life, someone I only knew through writing but yet who had an incredible impact on my christian faith, has died.  Michael Spencer, the internet monk, passed away after a battle with cancer.  Spencer was the first person after Mike Yaconelli to really connect with the issues I have with christianity - in a way that didn't diminish my faith.  He was the only person I've ever heard who put into words the greatest fears and concerns I have with religion. 

It is an odd thing to grieve for someone you didn't know but yet felt like you did.  His loss is incredibly sad. My heart goes out to his family. 

Hostage

We go to a really large church.  At the same time, we go to a smaller service within the whole church community, although we are really starting to get big as well.

One of the things I like about our service is how we don't add a lot of stuff to the church-going experience.  We don't do a lot of extra stuff, in fact, after 4 years, we just had our first child dedication, and we've had 2 big baptisms.

The Magic God

As I mentioned in a previous post, in our study group we are working through Max Lucado's "Traveling Light".  He uses the 23rd Psalm to discuss the various burdens we carry around needlessly and should drop.

I've had a rough time with this study.  I'm the one who recommended Lucado so that factors into the difficulties.  There have been a number of times where I've disagreed with Lucado's theories, questioned his proof-texting and pointed out blatant errors (like when he said Peter never fished again after Jesus called him, until after the crucifixion).

Loneliness

Our small group has spent the summer going through "Traveling Light" by Max Lucado.  The author goes through Psalm 23 line by line, discussing the various burdens that people carry that God can help put down.  Previous burdens (we are 15 chapters in) were fear, grief, the grave, arrogance, guilt, hopelessness, worry, weariness and discontent.

All of these are portrayed as negatives we carry with us that we shouldn't.  Before loneliness, the only chapter that really stuck with me was self-reliance (chpt 3).

The 7 Deadly Sins

It seems that another pastor has called an act of nature as God's judgment on homosexuality, using 1 Cor 6:9-10.  Just once I'd like to see a pastor call the tornadic destruction of a Golden Corral God's judgment on gluttony, then I might buy that argument.

I'm Not Sure That's What God Meant

Yesterday, our pastor coveredthe second chapter of Nehemiah, where in a beautiful mirror of Jesus giving up divinity to restore broken mankind, Nehemiah petitions the king for permission to leave the court and go rebuilt Jerusalem's walls.  He boldly risks everything to restore the house of God, constructing walls with his own two hands, while others mock his efforts.

This passage was used to support a 1.2 million building project, calling it bold.  Those who would support it were told that they had caught the vision and heart of God.  Those who would have problems or serious concerns about it were called mockers, against the vision of God and told that they had no share in God's plan.

After I got over my shock and disappointment over the handling of the verses, I have to admit that I am impressed with the sheer audacity and first-strike mentality in dealing with the upcoming vote about the project.  Propaganda is a powerful tool, I'm just not that fond of reducing the Bible to it.

Driscoll Calls Out Men

This video was brought to my attention today.  I thought it was very interesting, but I'd be interested in other's opinions.

God's Will

Our pastor had a few points in his sermon this morning, one of which how people search for God's will in their lives.  I've known a lot of people who use "waiting for God to reveal his will" as an excuse to do nothing.

Quoted for Truth

Below is comment #54 left on blog about Obama's win the other day.  Please do not mistake anything in it for an indication of how I voted but it sums up how I feel about a lot of people's reactions to the election.

"In light of Rom. 13 I think we have to just admit that God, in God’s wisdom, has ordained that Obama be president. Some of us may not like it or understand it. It may not make “sense”, but this is an opportunity for Christians to really re-think how it is they have used their voice within this culture.

If all it becomes is a way to re-double our efforts for a Republican “come back” then we’ve missed what I believe is a clear rebuke to evangelicals who may not like Dobson, et. al. but won’t go to town and throw the bums off the proverbial pedestal.

Judgement begins in the house of God.

I voted for Obama.  Not because I think he’s perfect or I agree with every policy.

I voted for the man because I hate the arrogance of the church, how we wrap our cookies in barbed wire, and how we mindlessly supported W because we sinfully demonized Bill Clinton and went on what sounded to a lot of outsiders like a self-righteous jihad.

My vote was to rebuke evangelicals. Now they have the opportunity to put their money where their mouths are theologically and hermeneutically.

If you aren’t genuinely praying for Obama, if you’re seething over his victory, then you’ve betrayed the Gospel and your theology sucks. It reveals that you materially really don’t trust God even if you formally claim to do so.

The kingdom of God was not on the ballot…and it never will be. So all this doom and gloom is really just immature.

Sour grapes and gloating are low class, unchristlike and a waste of time.

You can have your convictions, work to unseat the man in 2012, but this churning in the stomach that I see from some folks really reveals alot. and, no, it’s not revealing your commitment to righteousness."