Rob Bell going to Hell?

Everyone else is weighing in, so I'll take a turn as well:

I think Rob Bell is brilliant. He's a gifted speaker, a very strong leader, and has an unbelievable eye for marketing and communication. I have no doubt whatsoever that the call on his life is massive.

That said, I cannot help but note the flurry of judgment chaotically flying about as of late. John Piper presumes Bell must be claiming universalism as truth. Countless loyal to Bell rebut any such statements by claiming Bell is finally a pastor in the public eye who is willing to address the truth by asking these important questions in our culture.
My question is this: does the framework of universalism really stack up as absolute truth?
Surely not. The suggestion itself crumbles under foundational truths found in the Word of God. But hey- people need to come to their own conclusions about issues as important as whether what God says is true in the first place. People taking other people's words for it are what got us into this mess to begin with.

So needless to say, I find all this dialogue to be engaging. I am familiar with this man's previous works. Three of his four releases are actually upstairs on my bookshelf at this very moment. Not once, thus far, have I surmised in my reading that this man has universalist beliefs. However, to be fair, he also has yet to address that topic overtly- until now.

According to www.robbell.com, the controversial book will be released next Tuesday, March 15th. The night before (Monday night), Bell will be speaking in NYC, and answering viewers' questions about all of this. The entire evening will be streamed live (details found here). It will likely be interesting- mostly because it will be at that point specifically that all the speculation will cease, and the world will finally know where in fact Rob Bell stands on heaven and hell.

Its my invocation that all of this is a genius marketing technique. If it turns out Bell has adopted universalist beliefs, I consider that a true misfortune. Either way- Bell has, from a promotional perspective, cornered both the Christian and secular worlds.
I will be tuning in on Monday night to catch the first glimpse of where this tremendously influential Christian leader's heart lies... because as far as we can tell now, it hangs in the balance.

marriage material

I want to marry the kind of man whose sole confidence is in the Lord.
I want a man with a strong name.
I want to marry a strong man. With opinions and convictions.

One who loves intensely, and shares his heart well.
One who treasures me and writes music for me.

The man I marry will live an adventure with me. And treat it that way.
Iron will sharpen iron. I'm excited for that season, ever far off as it may be.

I want to get Away

Just let me go.

Re-Up

Many people have encouraged me to start blogging more regularly. And because I always (*cough*) listen to everybody, here we are. I anticipate thoughts on my Bible reading, perhaps photography, other clips of beauty, and probably just general reflections on life and the Lord. So we’ll just see what comes out….

I’ve got to admit, though, blogging has always seemed kind of weird to me. I WISH it flowed effortlessly all the time.. when in reality it is only that way a fraction of the time. It’s like my journal in that I could never figure out who I was talking to. Whoever my audience-of-the-moment was, deep down I wondered if I wasn’t just talking to myself. So if that’s true, here’s to you, compadre.

songs are playing

O feelings. Why are you so abundant.

And why is it that I feel like I learn little lessons from Grey's Anatomy? - a TV show I am only slightly addicted to, in this 3rd consecutive week of watching a minimum of 3 episodes a day.

I cry.
Things stir me. Fragile moments on screen spill my emotional cup. This is a new me.
My emotions are alive again.
I know it sounds crazy, but I'm learning to feel things all over again.

I feel sadness. And I feel pain. And reality. And I feel the struggle of life, and the life that was put inside me. And the Holy Spirit all around me.
And joy. And..... alive.

I feel a lot of things.
For the first times, in a long time.

I've had things eating away at me for months. And other things for years, and still other things for over a decade. Finally roots are being dug up and exposed.

God moves in my life on a daily basis.

I'm too exhausted for my heart to break any further.
I feel fragile.
Like a full cup, where if bumped, will spill over.

Christmas is Magic

Nights like tonight I love my family. Jodie gave each of us books she put together on Shutterfly (www.shutterfly.com). It each book are allll the family pictures we only have one physical copy of. This is the stuff from my childhood, from growing up, from NJ, and family and peacefulness.

PRICELESS gift.

I must have laughed for straight minutes without taking a breathe and tears streaming down my face. I was a little girl who was not particularly "cute." You've heard of an ugly phase? Mine lasted 15 years.
The redeeming endpoint is that at this point in time, I do have a decent face, and am attractive. Good things do come in weird packages.

So with that, I will say goodnight. Bid you adios and a very merry, very warm Christmas.
:) 

A time to plant, and a time to uproot.

Ecclesiastes 3 says there's a right time for everything: a time for birth and another for death, one to destroy another to construct, one to laugh and one to cry, one to make love and another to abstain, one to embrace and another to part, a right time to shut up and a right time to speak up, a right time to wage war and another to make peace. A time for everything under the sun.

A time to plant, and a time to uproot. That is the one the Holy Spirit is hammering into me these days. Its unpleasant, but progressive. Its unfamiliar, but restorative. Its awkward. I cry a lot. I also lean into Jesus a lot. Nothing else settles my spirit.
This is what my insides look like right now: gutted.

(found: www.walkingmelbourne.com)

The other night, Adam described a picture God gave him to help me understand how He is working in me. I'm like a building- God looks at it and says its good, its strong, I like the frame, etc. But the inside needs to be completely gutted. He will bring in the finest contractors, designers, decorators, etc... but first the whole thing must be gutted.
Suckfest. For me.

I see, and sometimes can feel, the light at the end of the tunnel. I KNOW He has good things coming for me. But for whatever reason, this is so clearly a season of fire. Of refinement. Ow.

I used to pray David's psalm- Oh God, search me and know my heart; test me and know my every anxious thought. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. I realize now the power of what I was praying.

Just lead me in the way everlasting.

I wanna be made new again-

findings

One of my favorite things to do is find beautiful or fascinating things online, pictures, stories, science, miracle, or otherwise.


There's this one girl- Kenturah Weathers. I 'follow' her online journal.
First off- AWESOME name. Kenturah? Where on earth did that come from? I don't know, but I like it.
Secondly- she recently completed The World Race, which is basically extreme missions: 11 countries in 11 months. I just read her summary post a few minutes ago. She articulated herself wonderfully. I so envy that, mostly because she did a beautiful job summing up her journey, something I was overwhelmed at the prospect of doing, and it therefore never happened.

Also, I found the beauty that lies within cardboardlove.com. God help us all, I've found a creative romantic outlet. ie:

 There's more. But, too much of a good thing spoils us. Until next time. :)

Motion Sickness

Out the front door to a world cold as ice
Pull my hat down and pick up my stride
I watch my breath as it steams the air to white
Winter breaks me at her start every time
Even though I'm prepared for the cold
In a while I'll be doing fine, I'm told
I know, I know

It just takes some getting used to, is all

I crossed an ocean, I took a lover
Took a picture outside the palace door
Showed my friend, he said he'd been there before
Crossed a river on a path train underground
Never thought I'd come back to my hometown
My eyes adjust to the dark as we go down
I look around

It just takes some getting used to..

It's not the changes but the s p a c e s in between
It's not the story but the cuts between the scenes
It's the part where your eyes can't focus
The minute just before you notice
The images align naturally

It just takes some getting used to, is all.......

16 bits.

1. My guitar is crapping out. Thats gonna take money.
2. I really don't want to spend more of my time inside the walls of a church. Even one that I love.
3. I want to see a school of worship start up in VA Beach.
4. I want to go backpacking overseas. By myself.
5. School starts again for me in January. In Jesus' Name, I WILL get it done this time.

6. I curse more these days. Its not very becoming. Well, it is. Just.. becoming something ugly.
7. Job hunting again.
8. Just made the most BA bulletin board ever.

9. My heart is aching again. Its that empty feeling that makes my eyes well up and my throat constrict. I miss Eric.
10. My HOUSE IS COMING TOGETHER.
11. But we need a couch. A cheep one.
12. And a piano. A cheep, beautiful sounding one.
13. ... I hate speakerphone.
14. I love my car. Thank you, my Jesus.
15. LOVE "Breaking Away" by Ratatat. Best 4min 19sec of my work day. hah.



16. back to work. meh.

Wants vs. Needs

I want: an upright piano


But first, I need: to pay off some debt.

Then, this baby will be mine:

these stand out

stand out 

stuck

Yeah. Thats how I feel.

Unable to move at the pace I want to. Having to make difficult decisions a lot this week.
Having to put distance where my heart feels at home.

I am overwhelmed and numb at the same time. I'm afraid of what might be happening.
I'm terrified of loss.


God, You are my safety.

MASTER TONIC:  A NATURAL ANTIBIOTIC
Adapted from Winkey Pratney, Fire on the Horizon, Renew From Gospel Light, Ventura, California, 1999


1 part fresh chopped garlic cloves (anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-parasitical)
1 part fresh chopped white onion, hottest onions available (similar properties as garlic)
1 part fresh grated ginger root (increases circulation to the extremities)
1 part fresh grated horseradish root (increases blood flow to the head)
1 part cayenne peppers (the hottest peppers available—Habanero, African Bird or Scotch Bonnets, etc.  – a great blood stimulant)

Note:  All of the herbs and vegetables should be fresh, organically grown if possible, and use dried herbs only in an emergency.

Fill a glass jar ¾ of the way full with equal parts by volume (e.g. a cupful of each) of the above ingredients – peeled and fresh, chopped or grated herbs.  Then fill up the rest of the jar to the top with raw unfiltered, unbleached, non-distilled apple cider vinegar.  (The solution should look brown and milky.)  Close and shake vigorously and then top off with vinegar if necessary.  Shake at least once per day for two weeks.

Then, filter the mixture through a clean piece of cotton (cheese cloth, or an old, clean t-shirt works), bottle and label it.  Make sure that when you make this tonic that you shake it every time you walk by it—a minimum of once per day. 

Store in glass container with a glass lid or stopper, if possible.  It does not need refrigeration, and lasts indefinitely without any other special storage conditions.


Dosage:  One-half to one ounce, two or more times daily (one to two tablespoons at a time). Gargle and swallow.  Don’t dilute with water.  [Editor’s note from Sher:  I recommend eating a piece of bread or a few dry crackers afterward to absorb the spiciness from your mouth.  However, it doesn’t burn your stomach].

For ordinary infections, a dropperful taken five to six times a day will deal with most conditions.  It can be used during pregnancies, is safe for children (however, use smaller doses) and as a food is completely nontoxic.

Talk it out with the big G

You know those weeks where pretty much every day you need to ask "what day is it today?"
Yeah, that's what this past week has been like.

I feel like I've run an emotional marathon at several different relational elevations. And now.. I'm just tired. I feel like I could spend a few straight days by myself doing almost nothing but soaking up God and this amazing weather.

It's Saturday night, I just got home, and I'm lying on my bed right now thinking about how I should read my Bible. And then I thought, what I really want to do right now is process through my week. I'm a verbal processor.. and I kid you not, I immediately discounted the Lord as being able to help me do that. I immediately thought, okay I need a friend or something. Well what the heck!
Really, TRULY, what I NEEEEEEED is to be able to verbally process my day with the Lord. I want our relationship to have conversational ease and intimacy. Shoot.

How quickly I forget what he can do, and how he loves me.

And I'll tell you something else. Something I have difficulty with: I don't make myself vulnerable with the Lord often enough. Vulnerability, I'm learning more and more is a state of trust, of feeling safety, and of peace. And I'm thinking to myself.. how do I get there?
And I think its not only a matter of just doing it, so that it becomes habitual, though that is part of it. I think, though- that its also a matter of believing that Jesus IS my trust, my peace, and my safety. In Him and no other.

So proud of my friends. :)

Feelings new and old.

This sucks. But its right.

solitude is really hard for me. It makes me face myself, my habits, and my emotions in ways that I naturally run away from.

1. Sometimes, its really difficult to live alone.

2. Lately I find myself questioning my relational decisions.

3. I need more self control. I need to that fruit of the Spirit. I need more of that Spirit.

Naming it.

My favorite girl names:
Stella-
   meaning: Star
   origin: Latin

Lois-
   meaning: Famous Warrior
   origin: German
Scarlett- 
   meaning: Creative;Regal
   origin: English
Isla-
   meaning: small scottish island
   origin: English
Fiona-
   meaning: fair, white, beautiful
   origin: Gaelic
Haven- 
   meaning: safety
   origin: English
Nora-
   meaning: Light
   origin: Greek
Evangeline-
   meaning: bearer of good news
   origin: Greek
Oraea-
   meaning: Reflective
   origin: Greek/Middle Eastern