Outside the Pigeon Holes

A recent article on Greg Boyd's website , Reknew, inspired these thoughts and a confession: This is a difficult reality to internalize but helpful when one 'gets it'...I don't like to get too deep into trying to explain evil in the world or why there is suffering even among those who trust God deeply with their safety and well-being. But what I do believe to be true is that God is good. All the time. God does not promise that we will never face trials or have bad things come our way --The world is too complex with spiritual issues and the cacophony of human voices demanding their independence -- but He does promise that he will never leave us in the midst of trials. I also believe that we ARE protected from many things which we will never know about - or that God can and does greatly reduce the impact of something working against us (depicted in the cartoon - which I found here: https://godguysandgirls.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/291937_10150267924702537_592537536_...

http://forum.xcitefun.net/beautiful-picture-of-space-earth-blue-moon-t13275.html I was meditating today on a reality, which is a mind-bender for me. God's identity and feelings are not dependent on my behavior. A reactive God whose emotions are tied to the behavior of man is a God of human construct. This idea led into some really deep thoughts...and some humbling things... God is not codependent. God is complete on his own and does not need my perfection to make him happy or fulfilled. Following the way that God leads is for my benefit and/or the benefit of others/the earth. God is completely secure no matter how badly I screw up. I don't need to worry that my mistakes disappoint Papa so much that he is driven to drink. He is not taken by surprise or shocked by what I do. Those feelings are my own - they are useful in helping me realize where I have gone wrong, but they are not a reflection of God's feelings. They come from the limited perspective I have as a human....

There's a line of thought among Christians that we are just 'passing through' this world and that our real home is Heaven...I used to believe this, too, although deep down I knew I loved this life and loved earth (in spite of the troubles that happen in this life). I no longer live this way or believe this way. In response to a blog post I read recently I was able to articulate my beliefs on this... I   believe that Earth is my home, and that God created me to live here in relationship with Him and in community with others, honoring them and creation. I believe that Jesus' work on the cross freed me from (among other things) religious strictures that placed man's ideas of how to be close to God with a recalibration of God's original intention (direct relationship with Him)...I don't believe that my focus should be on what happens after I 'pass through' this life (and yes, I do also believe that people go to heaven when they die). I believe that I ...