No Tanner, You Rock!

I had a hard time falling asleep last night. Too many things racing through my head. I ended up falling asleep on the couch around 3:00am as pundits talked about the Obama/Clinton situation.

When I woke up this morning Tanner told me he had a surprise for me hidden in the closet. He ran and retrieved the gift you see below. It says DAD ROCKS. He said it was supposed to be for Father’s Day but he just couldn’t wait that long.

Suddenly the worries of the world faded away.

Filed under: Dads, Fathers, Love, Love Wins, Sons, Tanner

7 Burning Questions – War

The current issue of Relevant has a feature article with the 7 burning issues of our generation, and they have some of the leading voices in the Church today respond to them. I thought I’d highlight them in seven separate posts. Here is burning question number seven…

War: How should we respond?

The real problem here is the cultural captivity of the Church in America. Most American Christians are Americans first and Christians second. National identity trumps commitment to Jesus time and time again. When American Christians show a moral preference for war as an instrument of U.S. foreign policy, they have not discerned the true meaning of the Gospel. They’re blinded by nationalism, rather than having their eyes fixed on the Prince of Peace. — Jim Wallis

Some of the leaders of America and Britain over the last 10 years have spoken quite openly about getting rid of evil and doing so by means of violence. That seems to me extraordinarily lacking in historical awareness, theological substance and just sheer human wisdom. — N.T. Wright

People are pretty hunkered down in their positions-the vast majority favoring war as an acceptable option, and a small but growing minority either committed to pacifism or growing ore suspicious about war. We need to move to higher ground, and move from binary yes-no questions like, Are you for or against pacifism? to questions that force people to think more deeply. — Brian McLaren

How do we as a Church become communities in our nation that really advocate for peace? I don’t see a lot of churches doing things that make me think, or give ma a lot of hope that the Church could be a force for peace in this country. — Nancy Ortberg

Now, when one gets into the specifics of which war to fight, how to go about obtaining justice, what kind of force should be used and how in particular one should protect the innocent, the way gets muddy. I sometimes fear that Christians (both pacifist Christians and “Kill the enemy for Jesus” Christians) have never taken the time to go through the complexity. — Steve Brown

It’s unmistakable to me, when I look at the cross, what love looks like when it stares you in the face and says, “Forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Now the Sermon on the Mount may not look like the best way to lead the biggest superpower in the world and the biggest military–maybe that should tell us something. — Shane Claiborne

This seems to pose the question of whether or not we should be pacifists as Christians. Sometimes one has to go to war to make peace. Ask the veterans of World War II when they battled against the evil tide of Hitler’s regime. The Bible clearly states there is a time for war and a time for peace. — Cindy Jacobs

We live in a fallen world, which is why Augustine first formulated what is known as the “just war doctrine.” Thomas Aquinas was perhaps the most articulate on this when he included the just war doctrine under the section in Summa Theologica on love. He considered it a supreme act of charity to give one’s life in defense of innocent civilians. I agree with Aquinas. — Chuck Colson

Check out the May/June 2008 issue (#33) for their complete answers.

Other Burning Questions:
1. InJustice
2. Homosexuality
3. Faith
4. Politics
5. Culture
6. Consumerism

Filed under: Brian McLaren, Chuck Colson, Cindy Jacobs, Jim Wallis, Love, Love Wins, N.T. Wright, Nancy Ortberg, Politics, Religion, Shane Claiborne, Uncategorized, War

Love Wins

Inspired by the hate-filled garbage being hurled by the Westboro Baptist Church in the wake of Heath Ledgers death, The Plow have designed the beautiful posters above. They are encouraging people to download and use them to help spread the fact that God is LOVE.

Download Poster Here

I created the posters above to try in my small way to fight back at this view of sinners. No one is better than me or less deserving of Christ’s grace. I need to remind myself daily to love everyone no matter what, because Christ loved me, a wicked and filthy sinner.

Love Wins.

**UPDATE**
Updated poster and explanation of revision available here.

Filed under: Art, Design, Hate, Love, Love Wins, Rob Bell, Westboro Baptist Church

Review: The God’s Aren’t Angry

I can’t say I’ve ever been to anything like this before. Which only makes me appreciate what Rob Bell is doing all the more. For three guys to hop in a car and drive 2.5 hours one way to hear basically a story we’ve all known for years says something about his appeal. Rob has a style about him, engaging stage presence, and a gift for story-telling. Last night was well worth the time.

The stage began black with a blue light shining down on an alter. When it was go time, the stage lit up and Rob entered. He allowed the crowd to applause, even acknowledging them with an applause of his own. Then he began to tell a story. And he continued that story for the next 100 minutes.

Rob took us down paths of cavemen and cavewomen, chronicled the histories of ancient gods, and told stories of people acting the same today as they did thousands of years ago. But he also told stories of people stepping out and embracing the new reality. The fact that we no longer have to live in fear and trepidation, wondering if we are appeasing the gods, because there is a God that actually stepped into our existence and not only said he doesn’t need our blessings, but in fact wants to bless us.

Some would call that good news.

Rob wrapped it up by telling a quick series of instances in which people were living out that new reality. Stories of love and mercy and acceptance. He hammered them home as his trademark music (á la Nooma) started playing in the background. He ended by blessing us with a benediction.

It was a great night and I didn’t look at my watch once. I love a good story told well. Especially one that’s true and offers that sort of hope. You can truly come out of that one saying Love Wins.

Filed under: God, Hope, Jesus, Love Wins, Nooma, Religion, Rob Bell, Story Telling