Outside the Pigeon Holes

Donald Miller posted this on his blog today .  I have to agree with him... Quotable: "This kind of cultural manipulation takes needed attention and resources away from true Christian martyrs all over the world who are truly being oppressed for their faith. I am a Christian. I follow Jesus. There are people who don’t like that. They are sometimes rude to me. Sometimes they criticize me online. Sometimes to my face. But that happens to anybody who believes anything. I am not a victim. I am not being wrongly persecuted. I’m fine. I know how to turn the other cheek. I’m not crying about anything." In America, we must learn the difference between persecution and push-back. If you can't handle push back from people who do not agree with you when you speak of your faith, then don't speak of your faith. People of other persuasions have as much right to disagree with your thoughts on God as you do to disagree with theirs. Funny how we cling so strongly to our negative ...

Verrrrry interesting... I love it when new light is shed on Scripture or when folks posit ideas that make you go 'hmmmm'. While reading some discussion today about the crucifixion of Christ someone stated: "I find it wildly funny that most Christians are unaware of "Yehoshua Barrabbas" names' meaning. So... WHO was released again?" To which another replied: " No one. There isn't a Roman custom of releasing prisoners documented anywhere except the gospels. Unlikely this was historically true." In case you aren't familiar with the above mentioned Scriptures surrounding Jesus Christ and Barabbas, find a Bible or Google up your favorite translation and see any of the Synoptic Gospel accounts (such as Luke 23). Basically the story goes that Jesus of Nazareth was brought before Pontius Pilate accused of insurrection. Pilate found no fault with him but because of a custom that allowed one prisoner to be released he put Jesus of Naz...

I was reading some discussion today on Facebook regarding who killed Jesus. There was a lot of good information about the customs and ways of the time to bolster views as to whether or not it was the Romans who  did the deed or if it was the Sanhedrin or if Rome would have actually done the dirty work for the Sanhedrin. Fascinating stuff to step away from what has always been taught about the events surrounding Jesus' death (see my following post regarding an interesting thought about the man called 'Barrabbas') and consider some other ideas. Below are my thoughts about the 'Who really Killed him' question... "In terms of 'who' killed Jesus.... I honor historicity and I love to study the context and facts of what happened in the earthly realm, but if I step back and look at the larger picture, it doesn't matter that much to me which actual group or organization did the deed because there was something WAY bigger going on. I believe the point is...

 ...And why I washed my hands of the label 'Evangelical'   I am a bridge builder, not a bridge burner. And I want to be clear that in breaking from the organized machine known as 'Evengelical Christianity' , I am not breaking ties with my brothers and sisters in Christ who are of this group - many of whom I know would not agree with any of the recent happenings that effectively 'broke the camels back' for me. The bridge I am burning is one of ideology and treatment of others. Even the closest of Jesus' followers sometimes disagreed with one another's views but did not lose their identities as followers of the Jesus they knew and loved, brothers and children of the same God. They were just in different places in their understanding of Jesus' ministry and purpose. I do not condemn or think it is evil to believe that homosexuality is wrong. What I do have a problem with is the lengths to which many have gone to bring destruction to an entire group...