Do we walk in faith or indifference?

How often have you prayed or just said: bring down retribution for me on my persecutors.?

The basic truth is that it is particularly difficult to suffer for doing what is right and good!  Those who find themselves trying to be true to God, like Jeremiah, are a countercultural presence in this world.  We bring a message that is unwelcome and thought to be weak and idealistic. Not cool! Because it, God, goes against the grain of the human ego.  An ego that craves power and success in the eyes of their public.  The sad truth is, the human creature has created a strong wall of victory over God’s call for justice.  We have built a counterculture to what God originally designed in the beginning. We live in a time of moral and ethical decay where political corruption and oppressive behavior are seen as the status quo, normal, smart and successful.   Jeremiah’s pain is the result of trying to speak against such cultural traditions.   And he speaks because he believes and trust in the truth of what God wants.  And yet!  God is not helping to relieve Jeremiah’s emotional suffering at the hands and voices of these immoral people. 

Times have not changed much since Jeremiah’s day.  The status quo is now well developed and seemingly thriving.   Corruption, misuse of power and moral decay simply seem to be the way of life.  And I will suggest that every person who stands with Jeremiah’s call, as a counterculturist, finds themselves in the same tension between good and evil. And we, like Jeremiah, are often tempted to throw in the towel and join the party.  God’s ways be damned!  ‘After all, we are human and everybody is doing it.’  Right?  That is called compromise!  Or at the very least indifference!  It is just easier to go with the flow!

God knows  the struggle. God knows that to be faithful to him in this world is no piece of cake.   But interestingly enough, he has never remove the tension of our choice over good and evil. Thus the prayer: ‘Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil’! God speaks the same words to us that he spoke to Jeremiah:  ‘Don’t give in!’  ‘Don’t give up!’  ‘Stay the course!’  ‘Trust me to walk right beside you through it all!’  ‘I promise it will be worth it!’

…..If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them. 20 And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the Lord. 21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.(Jere. 15: 19-21)

What happens when we are angry with God?

Angela Dienhart Hancock  once wrote (in a Homiletical Perspective, of Jeremiah 15:15-210:  “While Jeremiah is certainly upset in this passage by his abuse at the hands of others, it is his perceived abuse at the hands of God that he finds most disturbing.”   Angela could not be more correct.  And as read her commentary I was taken by how articulate Jeremiah spoke to God about his very real feelings.  

So often in my year of ministry I have heard people say how angry they are with God.  They blame God for all the hard things in their life.  At the same time they get quite concerned at that anger.  They feel they have dishonored God.  That God will not be pleased with them for their judgment of him.  That possibility  God will punish them in some way.  In those conversation I have often tried to soften their concern by reminding them of Jesus’ own anger at God on the cross. 

But this morning I am reminded again of the various people in the bible stories who have clearly expressed their anger toward God.  Actually most of the Prophets did.  Job certainly did!  And here Jeremiah states his case with words of not only with anger but disappointment.  And unlike with Job, God just briefly, but with strong word, reminds Jeremiah who is in charge and what Jeremiah needs to keep in focus as he moves through his days.

God is not a God of anger and wrath!  God wants us to express our feelings, opinions and thoughts about life.  And like a good parent, God then will tell us what is on his mind about our words to him.  It is just like with our family and friends in this physical world.  When we are unwilling to speak our minds to others everything just remains the same.  Not good!  Not bad! Just indifferent!  Which in most cases renders feelings of frustration and/or pain.

More tomorrow on Jeremiah’s predicament!  The predicament of trying to live as God has requested all of us to live

15 O Lord, you know; remember me and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult. 16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts. 17 I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them. 20 And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the Lord. 21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.(Jere. 15:15-21)

God's Grace is like a lottery ticket . You need to claim it.

The Apostle Paul is sharing a new dimension to his life -- his narrow reality of what the possibilities are (see reading below).  He is telling those who are listening that they would be wise to unlock the doors of their hearts and their minds and take in the marvelous truth of Christ’s love that is there -- present -- for all who are willing to take the time to explore the truth of God through Jesus.

It is sooooooo true that God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness and love are ours for the receiving!  To actually experience the depth, length, heights -- the total dimension -- is our for the taking.  We can be satisfied with the status quo -- just knowing the stories -- just believing the possibilities are present.  That God is present. We can just live in the knowledge of all of that!  But, it would be like knowing that you’ve won the lottery but never claiming the prize.

God offers us a glorious inner strength breathed into us by the very breath of God’s Spirit  to penetrate the very fiber and tissue of our beings. 

Why would we not want to explore -- research -- its total possibilities?

4 As you read over what I have written to you, you'll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. 5 None of our ancestors understood this.... 7 This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. 8 When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God's way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities.  9 My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. 10 Through Christians like yourselves gathered in churches,..... God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.  (Eph. 3:4-13 The Message)

Love God's Way

If you take the romantic, movie and TV assessment, out of  the term love we  have a perfect and doable concept of what God/Jesus asks of people.  The Apostle Paul makes this challenge to think and act towards other possible. He clearly define, in words we can understand, what is and what is not love. 

4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.(1Cor. 13:4-6)

Then in Roman's 13 he goes even further to help us understand the depth of this love Jesus invites his follower to, as humanly as possible, perfect. Not that we will ever achieve perfection in loving; but it the goal of living the life God have put before each of us.

8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.(Rom. 13:8-10)

 So often we get caught in all the commandments -- the 'rules' of religion. We tend to pick and choose the ones we want to focus on.  But Paul is clear, and so is Jesus, the only thing that needs our attention is the love of God in us. The good news is that God does not expect us to handle this challenge on our own.  He must have known, very soon after creation, that we were incapable of offering our sisters and brothers the pure love he loves us with.  So when he came in Jesus' skin. God's Spirit came along too. That is the Spirit came in a more present and active way here on earth. Then, when God left this earth in physical form, he promised that the Spirit would remain to guide and enable us to live as Jesus came to teach.  That is the cool thing about God, he is always looking out for us and tapping us on the shoulder when we are tempted to mess up.

The Apostle Paul, who began as a persecutor of Jesus' followers, was one of those who was tapped hardly on the shoulders by the Risen Jesus on the way to one of his attacks on Christians.  And God made it very clear to Paul what his message was to be -- God's love and grace to all people.  All people!  Paul defines the call to love in an amazingly clear and undeniable clarity.  

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 

10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 

11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 

12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.

13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.(Rom. 12: 9-13)

When you think about it, it is all just the basic 

stuff we learned in Kindergarten. 

Is there really a hell?

I received an interesting email with a host of questions this morning.  I will paraphrase for the sake of brevity. One had to do with God’s grace and how that works with the doctrine of salvation (the act of delivering from sin; or saving from evil; or the state of being saved or preserved from harm).  There was a question about hell and if there really is a place called hell. Then she shifted to a line in the Apostle’s Creed where it says that Jesus will ‘return again to judge the living and the dead’.  And she asks: “What does that really mean?”  Then her mind travels to our point of death: “I have read that when we die, we really go into a long wait before heaven or hell. Wondering how all of that works?

I treasure minds like hers that truly try tackle the meaning life; and where God fit into it all.  So many of us just choose to ignore what it says about God in the Big Book.  Or we push God to the side as unrealistic, or a myth, in preference to the ‘real’ world’s offerings.  

So I’ll put her thoughts and wonderings out there for you to consider.  

       Is there a hell?  And if so what and where is it?

       How does grace work into our hope for salvation 

      (the act of delivering from sin; or saving from 

      evil; or the state of being saved or preserved 

      from harm)?

      And, what about what happens after we take our 

      last breath, do we go to God or wait somewhere   

      in limbo?

Or,  does it even matter?

The Flaw in God's human creation!

In the Christian world there is a dream! A dream of how God's creations are to live together in harmony with each other.  Not just the human creation; but all of nature.  The imagination is: That God created all there is/was to grow, and be in this world, together.  That is to live in solidarity and empathy.  Being aware that others are as valuable as I am.  Worthy of consideration and kindness, respect and yes love.

The assumption, as followers of Jesus, is that we come to life -- to any given situation -- with the understanding that no one person, animal or plant etc. is alike or the same as the other.  That we all have our own particular ways, opinions, physical features and personalities that are uniquely individual to us. And that we are all made by God to exist in the world God has given to us together.  All together!  Without critical assessment or rude behavior.  The Apostle Paul puts it this way: 

10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

However,  there is a huge problem with this ideal image of the human being.  We don't!  We don't seem to be capable of such overall unity, respect and cooperation. There seems to be a major flaw in God's design of the human ego.  So then!  How is the  Christian expected to level the field of living in this seemingly un-level cultural of diversely different congumeraltrion of 'other'?  That Paul writes about in Roman's 12 (see below)?

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;

10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 

12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 

13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. 

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 

16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 

18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."

20 No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads."

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.(Romans 12:9-21)

What is a church?

What is a church?   When you read, or hear, that word what comes to your mind?  For the majority of our world it is a building.  A place that people go to hear about God. Some see it as a club.  A place where only members belong.  You can join the club; but in order to become a member you have to fulfill certain requirements:  regular attendance, monetary giving each week  and active participation in church functions.  You are expected to do your part to make programs successful.  In all of this descriptive information there seems to be something missing for me.  God/Jesus!  The very reason for coming to the church building to begin with.

Now I invite you to think about the world before God came in Jesus' skin.  It was much like it  Is today.  A world of insiders and outsider.  The clean and the unclean! The acceptable and unacceptable!  The Jews and the Gentiles!  With the big temple building, on the mount in Jerusalem, where every one came to be near God (to the Hebrew people believed that God only resided in the temple). It was a holy place to them.  These faithful Jews took their religion very seriously.  They still do today.  We Gentile Christian could learn a lot from the Jewish people about faithfulness to God.

Enter Jesus into this culture of traditional Jewish rituals, traditions and understanding of God.  Being of the Jewish faith Jesus was raised as a good Jewish boy. However, in  my imagination, as Jesus grew he became aware of many teachings and traditions of his faith that seemed to contradict his way of thinking and being.  First of all, being God himself,  he knew that God was not just in the temple.  And at one point in his ministry, with the disciples, the issue of temple worship became a point of learning.  See Matthew 12:1-8 below).  Jesus didn't need a building!  He was the "...  lord of the sabbath."  He was the point of worship.  The building was not to be worship.  He was!  And ministry was done a midst the people.  All people! Not just the insiders -- the acceptable.

I am wondering this morning if the Christian people of today need to reconsider what it means to worship and follow Jesus in the streets of their towns.  Instead of spending so much time in a closed building to do all their worship.

I am just wondering!  Don't you

1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

2 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath." 

3 He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

4 He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. 

5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? 

6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 

7 But if you had known what this means, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. 

8 For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath."

Help me understand!

Good morning!  I must admit that I am stumped by the silence received from my thoughts and  wonderings.  I was under the impression that a blog was a venue to create conversation and find some understanding or clarification on various subjects.  But I have offered you a space of grace to voice your thoughts, questions and opinion about this amazing God -- his physical-self Jesus -- and yet  I find no interest coming back at me.  

So if you are reading this, please tell me what it is you are hoping to find by clicking on this blog about 'Not My Grandma's Jesus'.

How Does God Fit Into Our World Today?

I am wondering how this venue of communication can be helpful in understanding the Creator God of the universe?  And as I pose that question,  my mind goes to the chronologically advantaged people of today.  The people who are over the age of  65.  The ones who are wondering where in the world all the "church members" have gone. The people who have witnessed the decline of God's visible importance in our town's public logos and in our public schools.  Those who are convinced that the "world is going to hell in a hand basket".  Who believe that leaving God out has created major chaos in our nation.  That those who profess an atheist philosophy have made a statement  that our national leader have been buying into since the 60's and 70's.  In other words they place the blame on everything but their own navels -- their own ways of thinking, acting and viewing the world they now live in.

But I will suggest that the problem is much broader than they think.  That the reason that the majority of Chirstian have "fallen away" -- chosen other ways to fill their time.  Is that they have fond other ways to be loyal -- whatever that means.  Since the midsixties the church no longer was the central part of their existence.  Because, worship, as we knew, it didn't work for them any longer. All of this has not happened because people stopped believing; or stopped wondering about God.  No! It is that worship, as it has always been done, is not what the people of today want or need.  The problem is that the "church" hasn't been willing to try to understand peoples needs.  The "church" hasn't taken time to ask what it is that people are truly looking for.  They haven't actually been willing to  listen to the disconnection that has occurred. And, I will suggest that the actual drop has occurred because what the younger people want is answers. They are looking for a place to ask their questions.  They want conversation!  They want a God they can related to and have discussion about.  A God to be safe with!  And "the church"  wants their learned traditions and formal rituals to be enough!  They don't want questions they can not answer.  They want the God they have always known without question.  

And! It is not working!  

Allow me to share my imagination about when the life of God's people was full of the simple joys of faith as usual.  A time in my life was much like anyone's life who is now 65 years or older. 

Our days and weeks were something like this:  School during the week with play time after school either on the playground or someone's backyard. When the only organized activities were Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts or school athletic, or little league, practice.  A time when boardgames were the big sit-down events in our live.  In our town the big weekly events were family roller skating one Wednesday night at the local tennis courts.  With our week ends filled with high school football, basketball, baseball games, or track, on Saturday afternoons.  No night games!  No lights!  Church on Sunday with family time in the afternoon when the normal assumption was that that day was to be a God day.  

Our huge yearly event was the 49er parade; which was an all weekend affair.  With the Lyon Club bar-b-q at the Indian Wells pool, about 5 miles out of town, where everyone came to be together, swim, dance, visit and have the most devious pork that had been cook underground over night.  Nummmmmm!

Our major monthly event was dancing at The Club.  Not a country club!  But a community building where all town events took place.  There was a bowling alley downstairs with a soda fountain..

Except for those big dances at the club and high school event.  Most social, and other gatherings, were at the church.

That world is no more!

Life today has evolved into a massive conglomeration of things to entice our imaginations. And, our identities!  So much to do and chose from that there is very little time to spend on God or church things. 

So my BIG QUESTION ARE:  

Does that mean that we have stopped believing in God?  

Or, does that mean we have lost faith in God? 

My answer is No!  No! With a 'but'  quickly following. 

It has become so important to do other things that make us feel excited and passionate.  So many things to do and people to see!  No time to think or feel just go, go, go.

And God seems to be there only when we need him.  Taken for granted in the steam of life.

So, what all of this memory wondering has created in me is a need to know!  To know: how does God fit in our world today? 

"In his image"

It says in Genesis that when God created the human creature he created them "in his image".  Now, since we are unable to see, touch or even hear God, we cannot know what that "image" looks like or means.  But I imagine it as a creation that is like God in heart, will and purpose.  We are created to be like God inside the skin of what was called human.  I imagine the it means that God gave us the power/ability to be loving, compassionate and sympathetic to all that God deemed worthy of his creative word.  I do not think it means we look like God.  It means much more!

And the good news, for this simple mind at least, is that we don't have to measure-up.  Actually we will never be perfect love.  We will always fall short of God.  Always!  But it doesn't matter!  It doesn't matter to God!  What matters to God is that we have the desire to live as he has made us to live.  And he has given us all we need to do just that.  God has given us his very Spirit to live within our skin to enable us to be right.  I didn't say best or better, or the winner of all the silly games of proof that we are correct.  But with his Spirit as our companion on this earthly journey we are who we are.  And we do our best -- whatever that means.  

That is all God ever asks!  At least that is what I believe!

Who decide what is good and acceptable to God?

Yesterday I asked if people could tell me about Jesus.  Who he was/is?   Today I am wondering How do we know/discern  — the will of God?

How do we define, or understand, what is good and acceptable and perfect?  Where are the guidelines written down?  And who is it that decides?

Paul eludes to this possibility of confusion (see reading below) when he talks about the various way in which God’s word  is communicated (verses 4-8) in this  not-so-Godly world he has placed us in.  So, if we are to offer ourselves as living sacrifice to God.  Doing: what is good and acceptable and perfect.  Who is the one source of authority?  Is it the Apostle Paul?  The Jewish religious leaders of long ago?  Or our pastor?  Or the self professed Biblical Scholars of today?  Who is it that makes clear the call to live acceptable to God?

Don't you wonder?

Why are you looking at this Blog?

I am wondering this morning what it is that would draw someone to a blog like this.  What was it about your Grandma's Jesus that troubles you?  And what would you like to know about the Jesus that I have come to know?  I wonder what it is that you, particularly, are wondering or questioning.

So I invite you to reflect on these often asked question:

     1. Who was/is Jesus really?
      
     2. Why do you think this Jesus is still being worshiped?

     3. What was it about the Jesus of the Bible that  attracted people to follow him -- even to this day?

Who is acceptable to God?

Another thought on the controversy of who is acceptable to God — that is saved.  Paul goes into great detail in make clear that faith is the saving point!  Not all the laws and expectation that have evolved over the centuries.

13 For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

It is so simple really!  All God truly wants is our hearts.  Our desire to follow in his way.  Even the inkling of faith! Thats all!  But we humans have put up all kinds of road blocks to God’s saving grace.  

What are yours?

11 The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13 For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." 14 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15 And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”(Romans 10:1-15)

What does 'fear God' really mean?

The psalm below speaks of the God Jesus came to teach us about.  Having said that, I need to clarify the Hebrew word for ‘fear’ used in verse 9.  That term does not mean afraid or scared.  It is total awe!  Before God we stand in awe! Wonder! Reverence! Unbelievable amazement!  Being in his presence is something so astounding that it causes us to stop breathing. Which is also something that could scare the death out of you (-:)

This God who is so illusive, and seemingly impossible to believe in or have faith in, is beyond our greatest imaginations.  Beyond all definition, intellectual logic or reason.  That is why God is so difficult to completely wrap our minds and hearts around.  God is impossible to put into our well shaped mental boxes.  And so we slowly move away from trying.  We try to find more tangible things to believe in.  We look for meaning and search for purpose in what we think we know.  Which often lead to discontent and often frustration!  Because they cannot fill the empty spot that we crave/strive to fill.

  1 Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin. 3 You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger. 4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us. 5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? 6 Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in you? 7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. 8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. 9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. 10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. 12 The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.(Ps. 85)

12 The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.

It is my thought that every human person is made to move through life with God as the true north.  But the problem is we don’t know how.   And it becomes too difficult.  Too unreal!  But I’m here to tell you that it is well worth the effort.

"Are you saved?"

Here is the condemning question that always seems to hold come kind of mythical power for the asker:  “Are you saved?”  Or, “If you die tonight will you go to heaven?”  In my interpretation of such questions they are meant to scare us.  Make us think that what we believe is not quite good enough.  Or that if we don’t interpret the Bible just like the asker does we’ll end up in hell.

So lets talk about this great concern about being “saved”, or not being “saved”.  The only authority in this regard is Jesus.  And what Jesus says more than once is that “those who believe will be saved”.  He tells his disciples that all they?we need is the faith as tiny as a mustard seed(Matt. 20).  Or check out John 3:15, or 11:26, or 17:3.

The only stipulation — the only one — Jesus put on the promise of eternal life — being saved — is faith/belief.  So your answer to the famous condemning question is: “yes”!  “Yes I will be with God in heaven whenever I die.”

20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21 Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.(John 11:20-26)

Now what do you want to talk about?

This is the place for ...

This venue of communication is a place to ask your long unanswered questions.  Discuss your confusions and frustration about 'what the bible says' and doe not say.  It is a place of grace!  A place to be free not to know  A place where your questions, wonders, and thoughts can be freely presented without judgment.  A place that invited only civil conversation.

So I invite you into the conversation!  Because, our history as the Christian Church has done all of us a disservice in muddying the waters of God/Jesus' story.

Lets remember that It has been a long time since the Bible was written.  And over the centuries God and Jesus have been through many interpretational changes.  From the very beginning of time the people have been totally confused about this God of the Bible. Jesus came to try to untangle the web; and was crucified for his efforts. In the 1500s Martin Luther preached a theology of grace by faith.  And encouraged people to live their lives offering God's love, mercy and forgiveness.  But then, in the mid 1700s,  Jonathan Edwards preached of a very different God. Edwards was known for sending the message of God's-Hell-Fire-and-Damnation.  Grace was not even a possibility! 

So from the earliest of times the institutional/organized church has taken great liberties with the page written between the cover of the book call The Bible.  A book that offers people the opportunity to know about God and what God was like.  However it becomes very confusing to the average reader.  The Old Testament people gave a view of God much like Jonathan Edwards preached about.  The New Testament is the part about the God that Jesus came to tell.  That is, the "Good News" about a God of grace and acceptance.

So how does one decide what is really true about God?  Well the truth is no one does!  But we can use our God given minds to read and understand by paying attention to the context and culture in which the books of the Bible were written.  We can pay attention to the two major languages -- the Hebrew of the Old Testament and the Greek of the New Testament.  And we can learn a great deal from the scholars who have studied closely the patterns of the biblical  writers in each culture and context and language.