The Burden

Eyelids close with weariness but find no peace.

Was it better when I did not care;
When switching the channel cleared the air?

Shoulders bend under pressure with no release.

Why cannot God have died just for me,
Instead of the whole damn family tree?

Back aching to shed an impossible load.

"Lift your eyes my child and find some hope,
You are bound by love- not a slaver’s rope."

Spirit refreshed, knows this is a well trod road.

Another Disgraced Evangelist?

Jerusalem (National Current)- Religious Fanatic Revealed As Fraud

One of the Middle East’s most polarizing evangelists was tried and executed last week in what some are calling the biggest religious scandal in recent history.

Yeshua Benyosef was once little more than a small town carpenter, trying to scratch out a living to support his widowed mother and extended family. All that changed three years ago when he reportedly went missing for over a month, then suddenly returned claiming to possess power over evil spirits, and the ability to heal any ailment with a simple touch.

 With his charismatic personality, and a politically incorrect approach to almost any debate, Rabbi Benyosef quickly gained a following among those disenfranchised with the region’s current political and religious establishment.

 Although claiming to be a devout Jew, Rabbi Benyosef regularly angered local religious authorities by alluding to his supposedly divine origins.

Last Friday, in a rapid turn of events, Rabbi Benyosef was arrested on suspicions of political espionage and rumors that he had spoken of possible terrorist attacks on religious sites around Jerusalem. He was executed and buried as an enemy of the state, and increased security has been posted at his burial site as authorities fear a backlash from his supporters.

Rob Bell

Just putting his name on my blog could really generate a lot of hits. I'm not going to comment on his new book- I haven't read it! But in jumping around the Internet to see what all the controversy is, I stumbled upon this little video.



It started me thinking. Which doctrines do I have to believe in to keep from being labeled a heretic? And if I help people see that Jesus is the only way to God, but don't believe in hell, could you still call me a preacher of the gospel? Would you still call me a preacher of the gospel?

When will we be ready to engage the world with respect and humility? Or is it really still as simple as laying down the cold hard facts, getting a few souls to sign some decision cards, and then moving on? I hope not.

So is Rob Bell a heretic? Dunno.
Is his theology unbalanced, misguided, or worse? Dunno.
Do I as a conduit of the Spirit of God need to study the ancient scriptures for myself, so that I can know God better. Uh huh.
Do I as a follower of Jesus need to walk in humility? Yup.
Do I as a disciple of the Christ have to demonstrate love as my default setting? You betcha.

So let's get on with it.

Bad News for B.C. Families

The Baynes do not get their children back yet. Another 6 months at least. This is absolutely incredible. I don't understand it! For the full story click here.

Smelling Like Hell?

Jesus was the founder of the new spiritual math. We thought we had all the eternal equations memorized and the ledgers of good and evil balanced, then He came and wrecked it all. He said whores and fraudsters were getting into the kingdom of God before the churchy types. But he also said you had to be more righteous than the Pharisees (religious professionals).

These kinds of statements should lead us to examine the demographic characterized by our churches. An honest look at ourselves can tell us more about the “gospel” we preach than our statements of faith ever will. Don’t get me wrong- what we believe is important. But what we say we believe and what our lives prove we believe often makes us guilty of a kind of spiritual perjury.

Where I come from people say that it’s only Jesus that can get you into the kingdom of God. What they often don’t say is that Jesus only chooses heterosexual non-smokers who vote for the Conservative party (Republicans in the USA); the odd crack addict is thrown in to add a little spice.

It’s fortunate for us- the clean religious types- that society knows you need to shower, shave and have a clean set of clothes in order to go to church. That way we only have to make people feel welcome when they look and smell like us. I just hope we don’t smell like hell.

(For the record, being a whore or a fraudster doesn’t automatically guarantee you a ticket to an eternal party. What Jesus was saying is that people like that often know that they need a deeper soul scrubbing than any religion can provide.)

DELAYED AND DISAPPOINTED AGAIN

GPS: DELAYED AND DISAPPOINTED AGAIN: "10:15 AM - WE HAVE RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT JUDGE CRABTREE'S OFFICE HAS NOTIFIED RESPECTIVE COUNSELS AND PAUL AND ZABETH BAYNE THAT THE R..."

TODAY IS THE DAY

Will a loving family be reunited after 3 1/2 years of government sponsored separation? I'm following the GPS blog today to find out.

 GPS: TODAY IS THE DAY: "They have waited a long time TODAY IS THE DAY That is definite. Judge Thomas Crabtree, originally scheduled himself to deliver a ruli..."

It Could Be You...

The following is taken from http://ronunruhgps.blogspot.com/. Do you value justice? Then please be informed, and be as supportive as you can.

NEW TO THE BAYNE STORY?

An online campaign of solidarity for Paul and Zabeth Bayne. Their infant girl was injured by what they claimed was an accident in the home, a sibling falling on the infant. This was discounted in favour of a diagnosis of shaken baby. RCMP investigation concluded insufficient evidence for charges. Their three small children were removed by B.C.'s Ministry of Children in October 2007. MCFD has authority to act on suspicion. Paul and Zabeth have maintained their innocence from the start. They have lost home and possessions to cover legal costs. MCFD applied for a CCO to legally keep the children forever. The Baynes obtained medical opinions that disputed shaken baby. We await a Judge's ruling on February 28, 2011. Meanwhile, a fourth child, Josiah was born Feb 10th, 2011. MCFD took custody of him four hours after birth. This is the present status, 3.5 years after it began.

Obstinate Devotion

Apparently my brother-in-law knows that it’s easier for me to rant and rave than to offer any viable solutions. He recently offered these comments and questions in response to my posts regarding losing my religion:

…How can followers of Jesus make a difference in the church without slipping into the subtle traps of religiosity? It's too easy to walk away, and I don't think that's a valid solution. How do we stay, and make a difference? Is it just a matter of quiet faithfulness over a long period of time? I'm not expecting a pat answer, just wondering your thoughts… Dan

It would be easy to walk away, wouldn’t it? I only wish there wasn’t a warning in the Bible about walking away being proof that we never belonged in the first place. The fact is that organized church is where most followers of Jesus regularly meet. I may not like fast food, but if the consensus in my family is to hang out at the local McGreasy King, then you’ll know where to find me. I’ll be the one ordering a side salad [totally hypothetical- I’m a french fry guy all the way].

I’m guessing that Dan put the words just and faithfulness together to poke me a bit. The idea of faithfulness being the least our virtues is really quite funny. Anyone who has caused God as much grief as I have knows that the definition of faithful is probably closer to obstinate devotion than resigned boredom or frustration. So yes Dan, I think obstinate devotion is critically Christlike.

The key for us is deciding ahead of time what exactly it is we are devoted to.

Are we devoted to our theological heritage? I hope not, because that assumes we don’t have too much left to learn. What about our worship service preferences? I’m not even going to… never mind.

Be devoted to Jesus alone. Like other long term relationships, this one will require us to constantly adjust our comfort zones, personal space, and priorities in order to remain vibrant.

I hope that doesn't sound like a pat answer. I know it's simple, but also understand that it isn't easy.

The Courageous Ones

I was thinking today about courage, and how it fits into countless values that Christians claim to hold. I didn't hear about it too much when I was growing up; at least not in church. Courage was the focus of the fearless heroes in Walt Disney movies as a youngster, or Sylvester Stallone and pro wrestlers as a teenager.

At least it seemed that way until I got older. Now I see that the courage I witnessed first hand was both more potent and more subtle. It's power stemmed from the fact that those who modeled it were not imaginary, and neither were the challenges they faced. It was subtle in that courage itself wasn't glorified, and the real life heroes weren't honored with medals or scantily clad, helpless bimbos.

Thank you Grandpa and Grandma, for a home of perpetual peace in the midst of all the storms of life.

Thank you Dad, for never giving up on a self righteous, angry young boy.

Thank you Mom, for raging against the status quo, no matter what it cost your heart.

Thank you, Don M., for staying the course when your heart broke that January 31st so many years ago.

Thank you, David G., for seeing past the Christians and embracing the Christ, and for showing me how to do the same thing.

Thank you, David D., for humbly teaching me to think for myself, and letting me get baptized off your beach. I still like the Christian life!

All these showed me that only the courageous ones will enter the kingdom of God.  Those with the courage to acknowledge exactly what they are, and are not, without God's intervention.

And He does intervene.