Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Old News

I have been doing some work on my family tree and I came across a newspaper from 1909, the Gazette & Hearld from Wednesday December 22. This is a paper from Dushore Pa.
Here are a few clippings of interest.





Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The Warren Debate

Recently President Elect Obama announced that mega church pastor Rick Warren will be giving the blessing at his inauguration in January. This has made Warren the latest religious victim of the media.

Rick Warren is the pastor of Saddle Back Church in California as well as the author of the bestselling "The Purpose Driven Church" and "The Purpose Driven Life" Books. He is currently being attacked by the GLBT supporters of Obama because of his views on homosexuality. (Warren was a supporter of California's recent Prop 8)

For someone to rise to the position that Warren has, they have to abide to certain non-negotiable Christian theologies. Many of which are restrictive and exclude people from the church and God. My question is, "is this the example that Jesus sets in the Gospels?"

Jesus interactions with the Demonic and the Sumerian woman show that he is willing to step across the cultural and religious boundaries set by the religious leaders of his day. In these interactions Jesus priority was to bring the Kingdom of God to those who needed it, and not allow "theology" to get in the way.

It seams to me that in order to be "successful" in christian culture we end up having to restrict our ability to accept and love others, thus restricting God, instead of being open to others and allowing everyone the ability to enter into Gods Kingdom.

Thoughts, comments, and chastising remarks are welcome

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Wow

Most people just throw there shoes at the television when Bush is on.....this guy throws his shoes when he meets Bush in person. I've got to hand it to Bush he's pretty quick.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Hell?

This American Life (one of my favorite pod-casts) had a wonderful story on Heretics this week. They tell the story of a black minister in Tulsa who felt a calling from God to move his church towards the Gospel of Inclusion and away from a belief in hell. (Click)

Admittedly due to my background, I am not all that comfortable with the Gospel of Inclusion but I am all for the consequences. As they say, consorting with sinners, gays, and Unitarians.

Over the past few years as I move away from the institutional church I both fear and hope that my story may be like his.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Prop 8

Jack Black as Jesus.....he makes some good points though

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Mac

This is why I love Mac's (Click)