Tag: scripture

Scripture as Witness to the Word of God

I always appreciate the insight and posture of Brian Zahnd, including his latest thoughts on Scripture:

The supreme value of the treasure that is Holy Scripture is that it is the divine witness to the Word of God who is Christ.

If you can’t see the distinction between Jesus and the Bible, you are very confused indeed! And not in a trivial manner either. Biblicism is a rival faith to Christianity. Oh, believe me, I have a high view of Scripture…but Jesus is Lord! It is Christ who rules the nations… not the Bible. Can I give an example of how this distinction might matter? Consider that the Bible does not give a clear denunciation of slavery, but the living and reigning Christ surely does!

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Rob Bell, Love Wins, and what Bell isn’t saying

The rapture in Dallas
The rapture in Dallas | Via boingboing.com

With Rob Bell’s book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person who Ever Lived (available in hardcover, Kindle, audio version) creating such a stir, and pastors across the country rushing to warn their congregations about the book, I thought it would be worthwhile to take a look at some of the major accusations I’ve heard and give a little insight into what I believe Bell is really saying.

(You may want to read my first post – Rob Bell, Love Wins and why I hope he’s right before continuing.)

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that this isn’t a full scope of what Bell is or isn’t saying — but perhaps it will encourage those of you who are getting over your certainty to take the time to read the book for yourself and make your own opinions about what’s inside it.
Continue reading Rob Bell, Love Wins, and what Bell isn’t saying

Rob Bell, Love Wins and why I hope he’s right

love wins
love wins

So Rob Bell has a new book out. It’s caused a firestorm of controversy and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it and read it for myself.

And now I have.

But before I give you my overview of Rob Bell’s latest book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person who Ever Lived (available in hardcover, Kindle, audio version), perhaps it would be fair to give you a little perspective as to where I’m coming from.
Continue reading Rob Bell, Love Wins and why I hope he’s right

Adventures in Fatherhood – Waking my boys

Blundell men
Blundell men

When I was a teenager, my dad would often wake me with a jovial rendition of songs about how wonderful a day it was and how we should be thankful for everything and how beautiful the sky was…etc., etc., etc.

You get the picture?

They were just the sort of songs you don’t want sung to you when you’re NOT a morning person and you’re trying to sleep until the very last minute possible.

It makes me smile when my boys give me reactions similar to what I gave my dad, whenever I wake them from their morning stupor and start changing their diaper (IDiddy especially).

My only fear is that I’ll come in one morning and they’ll try and zing me by quoting a Proverb like…

If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse. (Prov. 27:14)

…because I’ll doubt I’ll be able to fire back another zinger as fast as my dad did about being a lazy sluggard.

How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? (Prov. 6:9)

The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. (Prov. 21:25)

YouVersion just doesn’t work that fast on my phone.

God’s heart for the poor

As noted earlier, God has a huge heart and love for YOU – but he also has a huge heart for EVERYONE ELSE – including the poor, the marginalized, the hurting, the oppressed. And if we’re to be on the side of God – we should be on the side of the poor.

As a refresher, check out this list of Scriptures from the MissionalChurchNetwork:

Continue reading God’s heart for the poor

Repetition is key to learning

Repetition is key to learning

Repetition is key to learning

Repetition is key to learning

Repetition is key to learning

Repetition is key to learning

Repetition is key to learning

Repetition is key to learning

Orison’s parents read him Luke 2 each night during the month of December. By Dec 23rd he told the story himself, verses 1-21.

Repetition is the key to learning

Repetition is the key to learning

Repetition is the key to learning