We will not be moving to Canada, we got the call tonight.

Rejection - though, I don’t know if that’s the right word to describe this - is tough to bear. I’m comfortable with the news, I trust that God is directing our path; but it’s hard to shake to doubt about my calling. At times it seems so clear, at times…not so much. But I press on.

Is there anyone reading whose gone through this? What insight do you have?

I’m sure Brian McLaren is a very nice man. I just hate his theology. I don’t mean hate like, “I hate it when I leave something in the car at the post office and when I come back in the line’s twice as long,” kind of way. I have this internal, full-spirit aversion to his interpretation of the Word. I don’t know how else to describe it. Every time I read something he wrote my blood pressure and heart rate go up and I start muttering.

Anyway, Adam at pomomusings is having a little guest-blogger extravaganza in which each participant tries to define or describe the Kingdom of God. It’s a pretty good series so far. I don’t agree with much that I’ve read there, but it’s interesting and worth a read.

McLaren recently posted and the short-short version is that he believes the Gospel and the Kingdom are all about the here and now. Here’s his opening:

The good news of the Kingdom of God is, according to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the Gospel. John would agree - although he translates the phrase “kingdom of God” to “life of the ages” or “life to the full.” (The common English translation of “zoien aionian” as “eternal life” is misleading.) A surprisingly large number of committed Christians still assume “kingdom of God” and “life of the ages” mean “life in heaven after you die.” This misbelief is one of the most tragic turns in the history of Christian theology, in my opinion.

(continue reading…)

Before I start, I bookmarked this page a while back, and can’t even remember where I saw it. I finally got around to reading it today, and it’s definitely worth a look.

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Whenever I reach a crisis situation in my life, or I have a huge decision to make, I pray that God will show me the way. I’ve had enough of my own solutions to problems to know that they’re usually a half-step from oblivion. Sometimes it’s blatant, sometimes it’s not. But I’m always seeking that answer.

The problem comes when His answer doesn’t match up with mine. I ask which way to go, thinking, “Left! Left!” He says, “Right.” How do I respond? Normally I peek a bit around the corner, “Are you sure it’s not left? There’s a TV and a basketball court over there…”

I got a t-shirt for Christmas that has a big cartoon whale on it and a caption that reads, “Obey or get eaten.” I love my new shirt. It speaks to a part of me that knows what God wants me to do in a given situation, but avoids it for some reason. The most common reason for my avoidance is fear.

I’m afraid of things going wrong; I’m afraid of things going right; I’m afraid of hating it; I’m afraid of liking it. I’m just afraid. And when I let the fear guide me, I get eaten. Usually not by a fish. My spirit, my conscience and my circumstances eat me alive until I give up the charade and let God guide me instead of my fear.

Do you ever have those times when God’s will is clear to you, but you put it off? What drives you?

So, LayGuy tagged me for this book list, so I’m up:

1. One book that changed your life:

Well, it’s not really one, but three. The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker gave a whole new feeling and image to the Gospel for me. Not only was the story moving and engrossing, but it seemed like every 50 pages there was a theological epiphany. Not anything new, just a new way of seeing it and thinking about it. My wife and I loved the story so much that we named our son after the protagonist. So, if later in life I end up changing my mind about the rest, the name will still be there.

2. One book you’ve read more than once:

I don’t think I can say enough about this one. The fervor with which the protagonist resisted Sam I Am’s green treat illustrates how even the most hostile person can be changed when they get the true flavor of the Gospel. Ok, I just made that up, but it works; and I have read this about 15 times in the last month and a half. I think I may like it more than my son… (continue reading…)

Well, the MiniVigil’s over…still no news. So, we’re hovering. About the only way I can describe life right now is as a helium balloon tied to a kids finger at the zoo. You don’t know where you’re going, or how long it’s going to take to get there. And all the while you’re at the same time slowly deflating and dangerously close to floating off into the upper Troposphere (where you will finish deflating and land in a place yet to be determined).

I wonder if this is how the disciples felt after Jesus arrest. With the exception of Judas and Peter, we don’t read much about the disciples’ activities that Thursday night, or really anything before his appearance.

I wonder if they still didn’t get it. I wouldn’t be surprised. I wonder if they were sitting around thinking, “What now?” They’d left their homes, their jobs, and their families to follow a dusty but powerful teacher who told them of the great things they would see and eventually do; the great hope that he was bringing…then within a day he was arrested, tried, and nailed to a cross. Where was his hope now?

I don’t think they would have been unreasonable to feel that way. I’m fighting that

right now. It’s a long night, but “joy comes in the morning.” (continue reading…)

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