this interview with brian mclaren fits in SO much with how i’ve come to view hell: So, but one of the questions I could raise that might be helpful for you and other people thinking about this, is to say, what is the problem with sin? What’s so bad about sin? Now, I can just […]
six months without any water?
A meditating teenage boy in south-central Nepal is drawing the attention of scientists after attracting huge crowds in the past six months and earning himself the name Buddha-reincarnate. They are mulling over how to examine him without disturbing his meditation. Ram Bahadur Bamjan’s friends, relatives and managers say he has been meditating without drinking water […]
Plankeye (follow up)
There’s been some contention as to my post on “plankeye”. I will concede that we are indeed to “make judgement” — even about people and what they are up to. But the context of the verse you pulled out shows the difference between what Jesus was referring to in John 7 and what he is […]
“good” news
news is always in the eye of the beholder. when a bible sits there, holding information about the gospel, the gospel that it contains information about lays dormant. perhaps in some sense we can say that’s the actual gospel, but it is a useless one. the news jesus taught only begins to be useful when […]
test everything, hold fast to what is good
i have been asked to post on my practice of exposing this board to beliefs or lines of thinking that i myself do not hold to. this thread is meant to be an answer to that request. in the interest of keeping it clear for those who won’t read more than a few sentences, i’ll […]
what is holiness?
i have been studying the sermon on the mount for several months now, and i’d like to explore here some insight i have had on what, exactly, holiness is: Matt 5 (ESV) 43 – 48 Love Your Enemies You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But […]
who is worthy of compassion?
christianitytoday.com wrote: As Americans set new records for charitable giving in response to Hurricane Katrina, some fundraisers are seeing a principle confirmed: when the suffers are perceived as innocent victims, donors respond generously. On the other hand, giving patterns suggest donors are losing patience with chronic problems such as poverty, in which suffering is arguably […]
why do we have bodies?
i have a question that i’d like to discuss. i’m not looking for “the right” answer, as there isn’t one. you can use bible verses if you like — there are some that are very relevent to the discussion, but i don’t think we can come up with “this is what the bible says about […]
romans 2 is interesting
i got the idea from another website, but decided to try the idea, and found the results startling. i would love to hear some of the questions raised by the text below, but first an explanation of what i’ve done: a) substituted “Christian” for “Jew” b) substituted “Muslims or Buddhists” for “Gentiles” c) substituted “Baptism” […]
it is a mystery
about one-third of the planet’s current population live in areas that have historical ties to the religion associate with jesus christ — and yet so very few people actually study and follow his teachings. here in indiana, where i live, you’re hard pressed to find someone, anyone, who doesn’t believe in god in some capacity […]
seven views of truth
tonight, whilst doing some “light” reading, i came across these seven things that people tend to mean when they speak of “truth”: 1. Reality – Sometimes, we use truth to mean “what’s out there,†or “what’s really, really, real.†2. A human perception of reality – Sometimes we use the term to mean how an […]
all truth is god’s truth
all truth is god’s truth. i love this part of acts: 17:22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this […]
on hurting a burgler
assume you live alone, and are home alone, in your apartment, asleep in bed, when you realize that your apartment is being broken into, downstairs. what is the proper course of action for a follower of christ? don’t assume you have, or don’t have, a gun, a bat, a tazer, or any other weapon: all […]
Plankeye
A friend of mine recently wrote: This is the very reason I stopped attending my youth group. It was so unwelcoming. And, there’s something else, too. It seems to me, that rejection from the church crowd holds a bigger emotional consequence than rejection from other crowds. These are, after all, the people with whom you […]