I've had a change of heart about Rob Bell in the last week or so.
I still think he's a great communicator and presents some Biblical truths and insights in his videos and sermons.
The problem thought isn't the transmission, it's the message. I wonder how many people are actually aware how controversal and shocking his messages are.
Firstly, he approaches Christianity from a post-modern view. Post-modernity is the idea that it's impossible for to know absolute truth. In the first chapter of Velvet Elvis, he essentially writes that Christian doctrine is not important, that if elements of the Gospel are false, it doesn't matter.
The fact is however: that it does.
Without the foundation of historical fact, we may as well believe a fairy tale. Without the coherent system of theology, Christianity becomes a sentimental, mish-mash of well-meaning but non-sensical ideas.
I'd encourage everyone to read up a bit about Rob Bell and the emerging/emergent church.
Back to Basics has an excellent sermon called "Emerging or Submerging" on mp3 that I recommend listening to.
Here, you can find a good, even-handed analysis of the Nooma DVDs by Greg Gilbert.
It's got three parts including a individual rundown of each of the Noomas.
Please check the background for yourself and don't get up in the fancy packaging. I know Rob has some good ideas but be discerning in what you absorb.
I'm a Ex-Rob Bell fanatic.
Feel Good
I hadn't posted in a while and I was going to break the hiatus, I was going to post some long-winded article about how my quiet-time are now just focusing on one thing per day but I decided to abbreviate it. Here go:
I read lots of things in my bible-reading time; I remembered little.
I read and focus on one thing; I remember and get a chance to apply 100% of it.
SIMPLE: Focus on less, learn more.
Now, for the rest our time together, watch this:
What does it mean that the Bible is "inspired"?
Hi guys,
Been ages since I posted and I wanted to get something up.
So, to save time and experiment with how well it works, I'm posted an essay, I wrote last November about what it means that the Bible is "Inspired by God.
I'll stand by and say that I'm pretty proud of this essay. I'm not sure if it reads as well as a blog post as it does as Theological essay, but its worth a try:
How would you explain what it means that the bible is inspired?
In order to answer this question, I will first talk about what is meant by the word inspired.
Is it inspired simply in that it inspires people to do great things?
This could be said of any great literature.
Is it inspired in that it contains a flawed record of God’s actions?
The Bible itself does not allow us to make this assumption.
“All scripture is breathed out by God… 2 Timothy 3:16 ESV
This verse is commonly translated “All scripture is inspired by God…”
It is undoubtedly the most commonly quoted verse considering the inspiration of the Bible.
However, “breathed out” is more correct.
It implies that God is not just the inspiration for scripture but that scripture originates from him. It wasn’t just men writing their own thoughts on what God might be like. God is expressing himself through the scripture.
How this actually took place is a matter of debate. The above view has been criticised for implying that God dictated his Words to men who simply acted like secretaries at typewriters. C.H. Dodd wrote that the original implications of dictation theory are that “the primitive religious thought the "inspired" person was under the control of a supernatural influence which inhibited the use of his normal faculties.”
This view is uncommon today. Although there are undoubtedly times when God did speak directly through men such as the prophets, this doesn’t take in account the obvious personal touch that is seen in the writings of the New Testament. F.F.
Bruce writes that “Dictation leaves no room for the writer’s individuality of thought and diction, but this individuality gets the fullest scope in the Bible.” This is demonstrated most obviously in the four Gospels. Each has separate focuses and unique features that are born out of each author’s intent and unique point of view.
How then are the scriptures both breathed out by God and written by human authors? Luke, in writing his Gospel, was not given the words directly from God but tirelessly researched the life of Christ from the people who witnessed Christ’s life. It doesn’t mean that it is solely a human document. 1 Peter 1:21 says: “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” According to this verse, it is by being carried by Holy Spirit that enabled men as they speak from God. The Apostle, Paul in writing 1 Corinthians is guided into truth by the Spirit of God.
There is debate over whether the inspired word of God contains error since it passed through fallible human hands. However, while humans can make mistakes, it is wrong to say that they always do or even that it should be expected most of the time. It is unreasonable to expect the Bible to contain errors simply because it was written by human hands. Milne concludes his writing on inspiration with a reminder from Ephesians: “[God] works all things according to the counsel of his will.” In his guiding of the authorship and compilation of the scriptures, I believe God has through his spirit maintained the integrity and accuracy of his Word. I believe that as we reflect on the history and read it with our own eyes, we can’t help but be convinced likewise.
Explain how Christians believe God speaks through the words of Scripture?
The Bible is the record of God’s word and actions with humanity. Although, its components are written to many individual and groups spanning thousands of years, there is clarity of purpose and completeness in its variety. Taken together, the scriptures are a Christian’s chief source of revelation of God.
In one sense, we have to read the Scriptures like we would read any other book – that is with the purpose that the human author had in mind when he wrote. It would be wrong for Christians to blindly take any given verse of scripture and apply it as if God had spoken directly to them. For instance, the Pentateuch was given specifically to the Jewish nation. The covenants, laws and promises given in the Jews in exile can’t be applied to an Irish, evangelical Christian.
On the other hand, the Bible is clearly more then any other book. Its ultimate source is God and it therefore has unique properties not found in any other writing. It is ultimately authoritative (when understood and applied correctly), universally relevant, wholly inerrant, and it alone carries the revelation of God and the salvation that He offers. Therefore, it is with respect and awe that we read the scriptures. We should seek to understand through careful study.
The Scriptures aren’t however a static text book that we learn history or theology from. There do more then teach us what God is like. They show us how to follow him.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16
The same Holy Spirit who inspired the writers of these is now indwelling in believers. It is through this Spirit that we can see God speaking in the scripture. At an intellectual level, it is possible for anyone to understand what the scriptures mean, but Duvall and Hays argue that it only through the Spirit that we can truly set aside an “unbelieving preunderstanding”.
It is the Spirit also that helps us grasp and believe at a heart level. The Holy Spirit also gives us the ability to follow God. It is both through Scripture and through the Spirit working together that we move toward righteousness and towards God. God isn’t just revealed in his inspired writing and the witness he bears but also in the Holy Spirit that is present in all who put their faith in Jesus Christ. It is this connection that makes the Bible a living book with endless depth, relevance and hope.
8 Things I Learned from the Global Leadership Summit
For the last two day, I attended the Willow Creek Global Leadership summit. I was brought by my church, City Gates along will Paul K, my fellow MTSer and youth worker, and Paul D, my pastor. It was a series of video casts taken at the main summit which took place in Willow Creek, Chicago.
Here are some of the things I learned:
1. Visions is better accomplished when developed and and deeply owned by the whole group.
2. Lap dancers won't perform when there is a lady present (one who isn't a a lap dancer)
3. Only 12% of people play to their strengths most of the time.
4. It took a film maker (who's not even sure of his faith) to make me see how we could defeat poverty.
5. There may be one overarching dark mission emcompassing all my struggles.
6. The best strategy for a church's community outreach may be getting the professionals to do it.
7. Colin Powell likes to listen to everyone's view and works in a youth group.
8. The best way I can inspire others is by living an inspired life,
There was alot in these sessions and its gonna take time to process and reread over my notes before I really respond to what I've been faced with. Yikes, my head is still spinning.
ministry
Ok, it's 03:28am. You should know that I'm a night owl. My creative juices are on full blast once it's been dark a couple of hours. It's not healthy and I probably don't have the best sleep pattern, but that just the way it is and why I'm updating my blog in the middle of the night.
I've got big stuff happening at the moment. My dream since the beginning of sixth year (when my Christian walk really got going) has been to work full-time in Christian ministry and I think now I'm starting to realise how focused my life is in that direction.
As many of you guys will have heard by now, I'm doing an apprenticeship in City Gates for this year. What this means is this: I'll be continuing my work in Gap while also increasing it and developing it further; I'll be working under my pastor, Paul Dempsey and regularly meeting him to review, study, etc and also I'm for the first-time being paid for my ministry.
This doesn't mean I can quit my part-time job (not being paid that much) but it does mean that I work only one day a week in Zumo and dedicate the rest of my time to college and ministry,
Also, I'm back at college this week. I'm still studying for my Applied Theology Certificate part-time in IBI, so I'm in there every Wednesday. Really looking forward to going back. For the next few months, I'm studying Bible Theology and Bible Interpretation which are both foundational for my study, my ministry and my personal understanding.
I'm got some ideas for how I'd like to develop the ministry I'm working with, but I'll reserve posting about them until they're a bit better thought out.
Trials
OK, I'm officially exhausted. In my job, I usually work 12 hours (20 max) but due to unseen circumstances I'm working 40 hours this week. I feel like I'm going drop off even as I typing this.
The Gap Leaders met last night and planned our first month. We going to taking it easy in September and mainly doing fun activities. There are more plans afoot but they a little further down the road and much less clear. Hopefully, I should have some exciting news to report in the couple of weeks.
For the time being, I'm spending a lot of time reading and thinking about what it means to be a leader. The simplest way to define a leader is someone who influences, but that influence can take any number of forms and can be used well or wasted. I've been reading Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels. Each chapter of that could be a book in its own right.
There's a chapter discussing different types of leaders and one type mentioned has helped me understand myself a lot better but also challenged me about where I'm should be focusing my work.
I'm meditating and studying the book of James at the moment and the first chapter is amazing to me. It talks about how trials and challenges build up endurance or steadfastness (great word - look in up). It's really encouraging me to use opportunity of challenges and uncertainty in grow in character and be unwavering.
There's funny left in there
I've seen The Simpsons Movie twice so far and both times came out feeling completely differently about it. I loved it the first time, but after watching it the second time, I saw how deeply disappointing it is. It had interesting plotline which either went silly or nothing came of them and the only Simpson to be explored well (emotionally and all that) was Marge.
However, my love for the Simpsons was reignited by watching a couple of recent episodes that are funny.
Here, I present for your viewing pleasure evidence that the Simpsons can still be funny.
Challenges
Got back from Teenstreet last Saturday. This year, more then most, it exceeded my expectation. This was the first one that the college-age leaders were the main leaders there. It was scary and I definietly missed the Gasons but it went smoothly and it was good to be challenged that way.The next big challenge is starting up another year of Gap. I've been thinking alot of about how this could go. We have so much potential for what we do and are doing but there's also alot of dangers and problems to work through. I'm optimistic though. If we forced to depend on God, that's only a good thing
Avalanches and Americans
Last week, we had a group of Americans from North Carolina over on a missionary trip working with us in the City Gates Summer Camp, Avalanche Ranch. Gotta say thanks to them for being so outgoing and fun. It was a blast.
Here's a selection of photos from the week.
Powerbook Bought
Hey all, I got my new Powerbook yesterday and I gotta say I love it. It makes my old laptop looks like a heap of junk (well, close).
I got a really good deal. €500 for 1.25 GB ram, 60 GB memory (Both 5 times more then my old Dell) 15.2" screen and did I mention it looks stunning. I'm a happy buyer.
I've been converted....
I'm shocked at myself. Six months ago, I derided and slagged Mac fans for their universal loyalty to the Apple brand. Now, I'm planning on getting one. On Wednesday (all going to plan), I'm going to buy a second hand Powerbook G4 with Mac OS X (10.4). I've spending the day salivating over tutorials of the Mac OS. It's just so beutiful.
I'll let you know how the sale goes.
Video of the Last Gap
This is the video that George put together of the last Gap with the Gasons.
Good times... Good times...
Alex and Linda Sunday
Long Due Update
Ok, so after my blog enthusiasm in April, I've been kinda lacking in the post front. I flakingly promise to post more, but for now here's a quick update on myself.
As many of you know, I've been applying for an aprenticeship in Grosvenor Baptist Chruch. The last month I've been engulfed in a tension between whether I'd be staying on in City Gates or starting something new in Grosvenor. I got the answer yesterday morning. I'm going to continuing in City Gates. Honestly, I feel great about this result. Doing an apprenticeship would have been great but my work in City Gates has really been building up to now.
In the last week, the Gap leadership team have realised much more what we're facing in the future when the Gasons leave their position. We're going to have to depend on and trust each other more then we ever have. I've always felt like in some ways an outsider and I've kinda embraced that identity in most areas of my life. Maybe now is the time that that has to end.
We're facing a time when none of what we do, we can do on our strength. We have to follow God very, very closely. If you're reading this, please pray for myself and the rest of the leadership in both Gap and City Gates generally. We need wisdom, peace and guidance. I am however very, very hopeful. This is going to be a good stage for me personally and for Gap. I don't know what qualifies me to say that but I believe it.
I'm finished my first year in IBI (so I'm halfway through the certificate) and happy with my results. (A in New Testament - Boo yeah!!!) I've been surounded by a great group of people in both my class and faculty. I've never looked forward to Tuesdays so much.
Tomorrow morning is Alex and Linda Sunday in City Gates where we'll get an opportunity to share our gratitude with the Gasons for the last three years. I'll post a but more about that in the next few days.
April Fools
Well, yesterday was officially an event day. It may not be as celebrated as next Sunday (Easter) will be or is be as significant in any way, but it's still there.
I was quite surprised at how few people seemed to use the opportunity to mess around with no guilt. I taught a class of pre-teens completely oblivious to the power of this day. What? No pranks? For this one day, you could tell anyone anything, however inappropiate a joke it may be, and then get off completely scott-free simply by uttering the immortal words, "April's Fool". Just sit and let that soak in. No guilt.
Even if we, mere mortals, waste this opportunity, it's good to see that the
internet giants fully embrace it. Google for instance, have chosen today to announce their new wireless internet service, which operates through any regular household toilet.
Even Gmail got in on the act: Gmail Paper promises to deliver any e-mail messages direct to your door free of charge - putting the mail back in Gmail. 
Up to Date
I let my blogging grow stagnant.
So, quick update time:
- I'm now in my second semester of IBI (which has a brand spanking new site)
- I'm still working at Zumo (which has a brand spanking new site)
- I'm planning on applying for a ministry internship or MTS in Grovsnor Baptist Church this autumn (not branding spanking new sites, but I hear they may soon be)
Well, that's really the update. I know not that interesting or
infomative but I'll try harder next time.
Now's the interesting part:
This Sunday night , there will be an alternative communion service presented by 3Rock. The alternative element is that is comprised of U2 songs. (If you want to see how I feel about U2 songs see my post on Elevation. Here's the poster and link.
I will most certainly be there.
A New Hope (for sitcoms)
This clip sums up in ninety seconds, all ten seasons of Friends, the undisputed sticom king of the nineties. Sure, it had it faults: not least of all, its disregard of anyone other then liberal, white Americans. However, at the bottom line, Friends was funny.
However, a darkness is rising off the plain of US sitcoms. It’s not quite there yet, but within a year, we could be devoid of any decent US sitcoms.
- Friends – over after ten seasons
- Will & Grace – over
- Fraiser – Over
- Joey – put out of his misery
- Stacked – dead before it had a chance
- Everybody Love Raymond – nobody likes Raymond
- The War at Home – characters aren’t likeable
- Scrubs – season 6 is rumoured to be the end for Sacred Heart
This brings me to the new kids on the block: Will and Gareth (those in the above clip).
These guys are the main character of Scrub’s creator, Bill’s Lawrence’s latest project. Nobody’s Watching is the story of two guys (fraternal lovers in the vein of Turk and J.D.) who love sitcoms and given the chance from WB to create their own sitcom while WB record their own show about the making of the sitcom. So, basically a very easy premise.
In an evil twist of fate, NBC (in reality) cancelled the show after the pilot. In a good twist of fate, the pilot made it onto YouTube and international interest was raised in the show. Now, Nobody’s Watching has started an internet campaign to get it’s show from NBC (ironically, the opposite of in the pilot). I watched these guys, they’re good, very good. Here’s the link to their site. Go there. Watch It. Tell your friends.
I want this show to make it to air. We need a light in sitcom land.
ELEVATION
High, Higher then the sun.
You shoot me from a gun.
I need you to elevate me here.
In the corner of your lips is the orbits of your hips.
Eclipse. You elevate my soul.
I’ve got no self control.
Living like a mole, now going down, excavation.
Iodine in the sky. You make me feel like I can fly. So high.
ELEVATION
A star, it looked like a cigar.
Still got like a guitar,
Maybe you educate my mind.
Explain all these controls.
Can’t sing but I’ve got soul.
The goal. Is elevation.
A mole, digging in a hole.
Digging up my soul, now going down, excavation.
Iodine in the sky. You make me feel like I can fly. So high.
ELEVATION
Lift me up from these blues.
Won’t you tell me something true, I believe in you.
A mole, digging in a hole.
Digging up my soul, now going down, excavation.
Iodine in the sky. You make me feel like I can fly. So high.
ELEVATION
Bono addresses in this song, someone higher then himself. If we take this to be our heavenly father. The song takes on a depth of meaning.
In the first verse, Bono acknowledges God ‘s highness (higher then the sun), his control over his own life (You shoot me from a gun) and possibly his beauty (in your lips is the orbit of your hips). Maybe eclipse is him acknowledging that his knowledge of God is pretty much blind in view of God’s infinity or maybe he’s admitting that in spite of God’s power, we don’t always see him.
Bono goes on to say he’s got no self-control. I can relate. I know from my own experience that my lack of self-control invariably leads to sin, which leads to distance from and blindness to God. Eclipse.
In times of spiritual darkness, we’re like the mole, digging ourselves deeper. It’s God’s mercy that He uses these “hole” experience to examine the deeper hurts and desires in our soul and begin healing the. “Digging up my soul – excavation”
The second verse seems to be concerned with our image, inadequacy and asking for God to teach us. Bono, I thinks compares our God-given image with our feelings. “A star, it looked like a cigar.” He see some good in himself. “Still got like a guitar” and asks God to teach him how he use what he has “…educate my mind. Explain… controls.” He is not perfect yet, but know sthat in his God-given soul he is good. “Can’t sing, but I got soul.”
The goal isn’t to recreate himself from scratch but allow God to elevate him by surrendering to Him.
I recommend reading Psalm 139 in relation to what I guess you could call a modern psalm and look at the parallels.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
(Psa 139:23-24 ESV)
“You make feel like I can fly. So high. Elevation.
Only Quality Music (no not Phantom FM)
While Phantom FM did finally give us good radio, the web's done one better.
Pandora is a website that creates dynamic individual radio stations based on your taste of music. Just enter in a song or artist (or many) and Pandora creates a playlist based on musical properties. It even tells you precisely why it selected each song (all way over my head but still nice to have).
A negative though is that it doesn't base its lists on lyrical content. So, while I like heavy stuff, I only like songs with deep lyrics and Pandora is offering some not-so-good ones.
No problem though; you can give music a thumbs up or down so Pandora gradually gets used to your taste. The music genuinely gets better the more you use it.
I think Pandora is just example of the new phonomenen know as Web 2.0, a emerging web with more user control and communication spearhead by such net giants as YouTube, Wikipedia and Bebo.
Thanks to Mike Kingsley for making me aware of Pandora. You done good.
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