I was on my computer last night and a warning popped up that told me the battery was critically low and needed to be charged. It flashed a picture with a meter that showed there was only 7% of the battery life left. I knew I needed to recharge the battery, but didn't feel pressure to do so immediately because I was able to forecast how long 7% would last.
I do the same thing with my gas tank. The warning light comes on to warn you to get gas. The car will still function properly for a short while, but I know I must refuel.
Don't you wish you had a low fuel or recharge the battery light on your life sometimes? Not just the warning light, but a gauge that showed you exactly how much power you had left? Too many people operate on critically low and don't take the necessary time to properly recharge or refuel.
"Burnout" is a common term in the sports world. There are a variety of reasons people burn out and it's not unique to sports. The biggest reason people burn out is because they don't recognize the importance of recharging their batteries. They run on low and believe pushing through it is what makes a true champion. Wrong. No doubt, overcoming adversity and pushing through difficult times is essential, but so is refueling. I use the term "sharpening the ax."
The idea of sharpening the ax comes from Ecclesiastes 10:10. It says that when an ax is dull, much more strength and skill is required. If the proper time is taken to sharpen the ax, the work can actually get done sooner. Somehow, we view that time away from chopping the tree as unproductive, however, when you return to the tree with an ax that is sharp, you become much more effective. Basically, Solomon says, "work smarter, not harder."
To sharpen the ax, I take time away from the pressures and stress of life to simply reflect and clear my mind. I enjoy mountain biking, watching movies, shopping, writing, etc. I love spending time with my family, but to give them everything they deserve, I need time to myself recharging. You do, too. Everyone does.
Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That's the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed. - Ecclesiastes 10:10 NLT
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Personal ownership
The single most unifying trait among athletes at Victory School of Wrestling is personal ownership. A large percentage of those who choose to participate in the opportunities we offer have already started to take ownership in and responsibility for their actions, decisions and influences. The mark of a champion is being able to take responsibility for their life. It's part of the internal structure of those who engage and change; who make progress and succeed.
I'm in a unique position as a coach because I have the good fortune of being able to work almost exclusively with athletes that crave more than the minimum requirement. They're already striving for excellence, so I don't play a very large roll in needing to externally motivate them. I still do, though. They may be internally motivated (personal ownership), but I can help direct them and coach their heart and spirit so they can understand who they were created to be and can stay on the right path.
In athletics, personal ownership focuses primarily on the actions that affect the outcomes of competition. At Victory, this is only a small part of the equation. Personal ownership needs to move beyond scores and statistics and into the essence of who someone is. You have to own who you are so you can own who you will become.
I encourage my athletes to take ownership of who they are as well as the choices the make. They need to be able to keep from telling themselves a story that defers responsibility. They need to tell the truth. They need to be real with who they are. We all have an internal narrative that keeps us from doing this. It's easier to shift the blame and point fingers. It's difficult to admit that responsibility may have been on your own shoulders. You must know who you are if you ever want to break that trend.
The personal ownership we seek demands identity before activity. When you know who you are, you'll know what to do.
I'm in a unique position as a coach because I have the good fortune of being able to work almost exclusively with athletes that crave more than the minimum requirement. They're already striving for excellence, so I don't play a very large roll in needing to externally motivate them. I still do, though. They may be internally motivated (personal ownership), but I can help direct them and coach their heart and spirit so they can understand who they were created to be and can stay on the right path.
In athletics, personal ownership focuses primarily on the actions that affect the outcomes of competition. At Victory, this is only a small part of the equation. Personal ownership needs to move beyond scores and statistics and into the essence of who someone is. You have to own who you are so you can own who you will become.
I encourage my athletes to take ownership of who they are as well as the choices the make. They need to be able to keep from telling themselves a story that defers responsibility. They need to tell the truth. They need to be real with who they are. We all have an internal narrative that keeps us from doing this. It's easier to shift the blame and point fingers. It's difficult to admit that responsibility may have been on your own shoulders. You must know who you are if you ever want to break that trend.
The personal ownership we seek demands identity before activity. When you know who you are, you'll know what to do.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Do you hear me? Are you listening?
In the movie White Men Can't Jump, black and white basketball hustlers join forces to double their chances. Woody Harrelson plays Billy Hoyle (the white man) and Wesley Snipes is Sidney Deane (the black man). After a set-up, Billy puts a Jimi Hendrix tape into his car stereo. He start to jam, but Sidney is appalled so he launches into one of the greatest dialogues in the recent history of cinematography. Sidney effectively tells Billy that he might choose to listen to Jimi Hendrix, but as a white man, he doesn't really hear what he's saying. He's suggesting that Billy doesn't comprehend or understand what Jimi is putting out because he cannot relate to what he goes through in life as a black man.
I love the scene and watch it on YouTube periodically. However, it's important to note that Sidney is confused by the proper use of these two verbs. His message was that Billy cannot "listen" to certain music even if he "hears" it. The difference between hearing and listening is an important distinction to make if you want to be the most effective communicator you can be and the most effective Christ follower.
Hearing is the ability to perceive sound by detecting vibrations through the ear. It's one of the traditional five senses, so almost anyone can do it. Listening, on the other hand, is a communication technique that requires the listener to understand, interpret and evaluate what they hear. Hearing comes naturally while listening must be developed. Just because you hear doesn't mean you're listening.
As you know, I have a million ideas in my head and enjoy bouncing a few of them off Liz every now and again. Sometimes, I choose to do so when she is distracted by other things. She has the ability to multi-task extremely well, however at times she's limited to do so. In those latter moments, as I'm talking, she arbitrarily throws in the statement, "I'm listening" as she continues doing what it is she's doing. She'll even repeat what I say. I'll stop her and say, "you hear me, but you're not listening." Fortunately, we have a wonderful communication base and these moments don't cause us stress. We don't simply want to be heard, we want others to actively listen to us.
One of the most radical teachings of Jesus occurs in the Gospel of Luke when, in chapter 6, he instructs us to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us (v. 27 NIV). This is undoubtedly one of the most perplexing and difficult things to understand about the life of Jesus. What I find interesting is that he opens this statement by saying, "but to you who are listening I say..." He doesn't want us to simply hear what he's saying. He wants to listen, in order to heed or make it a practice to do as he says. I equate it to when a coach says, "hey, listen up..." The coach isn't looking to be heard, he wants his pupils to listen, take action and respond accordingly. Simply put, do what he says.
Do you listen to Jesus, or do you simply hear what he says. By hearing, you might even be able to recite what's being said. Listening, however, demands that you engage in and do what is said. If you've taken the step to read the Bible, take courage in listening to Jesus.
I love the scene and watch it on YouTube periodically. However, it's important to note that Sidney is confused by the proper use of these two verbs. His message was that Billy cannot "listen" to certain music even if he "hears" it. The difference between hearing and listening is an important distinction to make if you want to be the most effective communicator you can be and the most effective Christ follower.
Hearing is the ability to perceive sound by detecting vibrations through the ear. It's one of the traditional five senses, so almost anyone can do it. Listening, on the other hand, is a communication technique that requires the listener to understand, interpret and evaluate what they hear. Hearing comes naturally while listening must be developed. Just because you hear doesn't mean you're listening.
As you know, I have a million ideas in my head and enjoy bouncing a few of them off Liz every now and again. Sometimes, I choose to do so when she is distracted by other things. She has the ability to multi-task extremely well, however at times she's limited to do so. In those latter moments, as I'm talking, she arbitrarily throws in the statement, "I'm listening" as she continues doing what it is she's doing. She'll even repeat what I say. I'll stop her and say, "you hear me, but you're not listening." Fortunately, we have a wonderful communication base and these moments don't cause us stress. We don't simply want to be heard, we want others to actively listen to us.
One of the most radical teachings of Jesus occurs in the Gospel of Luke when, in chapter 6, he instructs us to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us (v. 27 NIV). This is undoubtedly one of the most perplexing and difficult things to understand about the life of Jesus. What I find interesting is that he opens this statement by saying, "but to you who are listening I say..." He doesn't want us to simply hear what he's saying. He wants to listen, in order to heed or make it a practice to do as he says. I equate it to when a coach says, "hey, listen up..." The coach isn't looking to be heard, he wants his pupils to listen, take action and respond accordingly. Simply put, do what he says.
Do you listen to Jesus, or do you simply hear what he says. By hearing, you might even be able to recite what's being said. Listening, however, demands that you engage in and do what is said. If you've taken the step to read the Bible, take courage in listening to Jesus.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Life as we know it (more like, life as I know it)
I have discovered that I really love writing. This blog has been a lot of fun. I enjoy sharing my thoughts and being transparent. Sometimes, it's nice to just write about life - what I'm doing. So, here's a quick catch-you-up-to-speed version of what's going on right now.
1. Life is good! My wife is amazing. I don't simply love her. I adore her. We have two little boys that bring us so much joy. I've always loved little kids, but I didn't know I was allowed to have this much fun as a parent.
2. Last summer I read the book Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick. I read it again this summer because we did a small group study on it. I can say, without reservation, that this is the best book I've ever read. It challenged my faith in God and has forced me to live out my faith with audacity. This includes being bold in what I do and how I pray. Warning: Acts 4:20 ("For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.").
3. I haven't worn flip-flops in over two years. I guess this is significant because it reveals that I'm actively participating in the wellness of my body (fyi: flip-flops are terrible for you). This is a tricky subject because I've always been an athlete, but now that I'm not an athlete, my body responds differently to many things, especially food. Two weeks ago, Isaiah told me there was a baby in my belly. Um, no! There isn't. However, my tummy isn't rock hard like it used to be (tear), so I've been moving in the direction of making better decisions regarding the wellness of my body. For the past three days, I've been a self-proclaimed vegetarian and I don't drink nearly as much Mountain Dew as I'd like to. Everyone warned me that my metabolism would slow down and I'm ashamed to say they were right (admitting I was wrong - ouch!).
4. I've grown up. A lot. I still think I'm a kid at heart, but I'm much more of a man everywhere else. Obviously, increased responsibilities as a business owner, parent, etc. have contributed to this. I also think realizing that "pride comes before a fall" is not just a convenient saying, it's a principal of life. As a result of understanding this the hard way, I make humility my life's greatest pursuit. I pray that God will allow me to be humble so he doesn't have to humble me. Humility is my top priority in my marriage, in my career path and in my walk with God.
5. Wrestling is still one of my greatest earthly passions. Without needing to explain myself much, I believe it is God's greatest tool for me to have a lasting and eternal impact on this planet with others. Wrestling is my ministry, however, there are times I dislike the culture of wrestling so much that I wouldn't mind having nothing to do with it ever again. There are a lot of ugly things in wrestling that make my skin crawl, especially watching "wrestling people" become the worst enemy of wrestling. Still, I know God has put me on this earth to be submersed in the wrestling culture. I'm placed here for a purpose, guided by a passion and EMPOWERED by the Spirit of God.
6. Social networking is pretty cool. I know there are still people, albeit very few, that are afraid of Facebook and Twitter. I love reconnecting with people and taking advantage of the opportunity to share my life with others. It's fun. It's also important from a business standpoint, which is why I started a Victory fan page and maintain a blog. It's also a great avenue for me to share little "nuggets" of Truth and represent Christ. Beyond that, though, it's fun. My kids are Facebook sensations. Almost daily someone tells me they watch my videos. I remember telling Liz (in our first year of marriage) that I loved her so much I wanted to share it with everyone. Now, it's the same with my kids and the rest of my life. Social networking allows me to share my life, and the things I love, with everyone!
7. Unsolicited advice: if I could tell you one thing in a few words and nothing else, I would say, "repent and love God." But, I get to tell you more than one thing, right? In fact, I'm probably in a position to tell you as many things as I'd like. It's my blog and you're reading it. Seriously, though, to be consistent with who I am and what I'm about, I would say, "do what it is that you were created to do." There are many layers to this statement and I'm dead set on this idea. We don't need you to be like anyone else. We don't need you to think like everyone else. We need you to be the man or woman you were created to be. It's extremely difficult in application, but very simplistic. Don't be afraid to be you. Don't strive for "normal." In case you haven't noticed, normal isn't working. Be unique. Be weird. Be great and be YOU. Embrace your individuality and change the world while doing it. What's inside of you that only you have is precisely what the world needs. You're the only YOU that will ever live.
1. Life is good! My wife is amazing. I don't simply love her. I adore her. We have two little boys that bring us so much joy. I've always loved little kids, but I didn't know I was allowed to have this much fun as a parent.
2. Last summer I read the book Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick. I read it again this summer because we did a small group study on it. I can say, without reservation, that this is the best book I've ever read. It challenged my faith in God and has forced me to live out my faith with audacity. This includes being bold in what I do and how I pray. Warning: Acts 4:20 ("For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.").
3. I haven't worn flip-flops in over two years. I guess this is significant because it reveals that I'm actively participating in the wellness of my body (fyi: flip-flops are terrible for you). This is a tricky subject because I've always been an athlete, but now that I'm not an athlete, my body responds differently to many things, especially food. Two weeks ago, Isaiah told me there was a baby in my belly. Um, no! There isn't. However, my tummy isn't rock hard like it used to be (tear), so I've been moving in the direction of making better decisions regarding the wellness of my body. For the past three days, I've been a self-proclaimed vegetarian and I don't drink nearly as much Mountain Dew as I'd like to. Everyone warned me that my metabolism would slow down and I'm ashamed to say they were right (admitting I was wrong - ouch!).
4. I've grown up. A lot. I still think I'm a kid at heart, but I'm much more of a man everywhere else. Obviously, increased responsibilities as a business owner, parent, etc. have contributed to this. I also think realizing that "pride comes before a fall" is not just a convenient saying, it's a principal of life. As a result of understanding this the hard way, I make humility my life's greatest pursuit. I pray that God will allow me to be humble so he doesn't have to humble me. Humility is my top priority in my marriage, in my career path and in my walk with God.
5. Wrestling is still one of my greatest earthly passions. Without needing to explain myself much, I believe it is God's greatest tool for me to have a lasting and eternal impact on this planet with others. Wrestling is my ministry, however, there are times I dislike the culture of wrestling so much that I wouldn't mind having nothing to do with it ever again. There are a lot of ugly things in wrestling that make my skin crawl, especially watching "wrestling people" become the worst enemy of wrestling. Still, I know God has put me on this earth to be submersed in the wrestling culture. I'm placed here for a purpose, guided by a passion and EMPOWERED by the Spirit of God.
6. Social networking is pretty cool. I know there are still people, albeit very few, that are afraid of Facebook and Twitter. I love reconnecting with people and taking advantage of the opportunity to share my life with others. It's fun. It's also important from a business standpoint, which is why I started a Victory fan page and maintain a blog. It's also a great avenue for me to share little "nuggets" of Truth and represent Christ. Beyond that, though, it's fun. My kids are Facebook sensations. Almost daily someone tells me they watch my videos. I remember telling Liz (in our first year of marriage) that I loved her so much I wanted to share it with everyone. Now, it's the same with my kids and the rest of my life. Social networking allows me to share my life, and the things I love, with everyone!
7. Unsolicited advice: if I could tell you one thing in a few words and nothing else, I would say, "repent and love God." But, I get to tell you more than one thing, right? In fact, I'm probably in a position to tell you as many things as I'd like. It's my blog and you're reading it. Seriously, though, to be consistent with who I am and what I'm about, I would say, "do what it is that you were created to do." There are many layers to this statement and I'm dead set on this idea. We don't need you to be like anyone else. We don't need you to think like everyone else. We need you to be the man or woman you were created to be. It's extremely difficult in application, but very simplistic. Don't be afraid to be you. Don't strive for "normal." In case you haven't noticed, normal isn't working. Be unique. Be weird. Be great and be YOU. Embrace your individuality and change the world while doing it. What's inside of you that only you have is precisely what the world needs. You're the only YOU that will ever live.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sometimes, things aren't as the seem...
Yesterday we were leisurely driving back to the dorms after church having conversations about the meaning of life and other fun topics like that (I'm currently staying at the Olympic Training Center). We were near our destination when we were forced to come to an abrupt stop because of two dogs in the street. One was standing in my lane and the other was running back and forth from the yellow line to the curb. I had a dog lover in the backseat with me and she was scared out of her mind for these dogs (inside joke: almost as if the dog's name was on the Deathnote). She wanted to jump out of the van and rescue them. Meanwhile, there was a 20-something male wearing Tom's who was trying to get the dogs out of the street. It was a 20 second episode that seemed like 10 or more minutes, you know what I mean?
Well, the dude in the Tom's grabbed the dog that had been running around by his collar and threw him to the curb. Literally, he threw him. 15 feet in the air. The dog landed in the grass and took off running in the opposite direction. Said passenger lost her mind! She wanted to get into this guy's face and let him know that his actions were not alright. Then, both dogs ran across to the other side of the road and started walking down the sidewalk. My lane was opened, so I started driving. Still, the was more anger in the backseat and this particular passenger was frantically scrambling to open the window or door or anything to get at this guy. I wasn't interested in confrontation, especially over a couple of dogs, so I drove on. We were all disturbed by what we saw.
Then...in my mirror, I saw these dogs go into a house and the guy kept walking. Suddenly, it dawned on me that he wasn't the owner of the dogs. Honestly, my perception of the entire situation changed. It went from being bad to good. This guy was actually saving the dogs! He wasn't abusing them. He was clearly in a fight or flight moment and was doing his best to keep the dogs from becoming roadkill. He saved their lives! This guy was a hero. Needless to say, the backseat was in a state of confusion and extended explanations were needed to understand the events that unfolded before our eyes. We had it all wrong. Sometimes, things aren't as they seem.
It was one of those simple moments in life that have a profound impact. My perspective was wrong, and likely on good merit. I assumed the situation was one way when it was the opposite. The life application from this moment can become invaluable if we remember that the way we see something often formulates our thought process that draws conclusions in every situation. The above situation never changed, but how I saw it did.
Well, the dude in the Tom's grabbed the dog that had been running around by his collar and threw him to the curb. Literally, he threw him. 15 feet in the air. The dog landed in the grass and took off running in the opposite direction. Said passenger lost her mind! She wanted to get into this guy's face and let him know that his actions were not alright. Then, both dogs ran across to the other side of the road and started walking down the sidewalk. My lane was opened, so I started driving. Still, the was more anger in the backseat and this particular passenger was frantically scrambling to open the window or door or anything to get at this guy. I wasn't interested in confrontation, especially over a couple of dogs, so I drove on. We were all disturbed by what we saw.
Then...in my mirror, I saw these dogs go into a house and the guy kept walking. Suddenly, it dawned on me that he wasn't the owner of the dogs. Honestly, my perception of the entire situation changed. It went from being bad to good. This guy was actually saving the dogs! He wasn't abusing them. He was clearly in a fight or flight moment and was doing his best to keep the dogs from becoming roadkill. He saved their lives! This guy was a hero. Needless to say, the backseat was in a state of confusion and extended explanations were needed to understand the events that unfolded before our eyes. We had it all wrong. Sometimes, things aren't as they seem.
It was one of those simple moments in life that have a profound impact. My perspective was wrong, and likely on good merit. I assumed the situation was one way when it was the opposite. The life application from this moment can become invaluable if we remember that the way we see something often formulates our thought process that draws conclusions in every situation. The above situation never changed, but how I saw it did.
Friday, August 19, 2011
A book review of Love Wins
Ok, so this is completely uncharted waters for me. I have never formally critiqued a book. I don't know the protocol and I'm sure I will violate a number of journalistic ethics in the process, but a friend suggested on Facebook that I write my thoughts about Love Wins by Rob Bell. Since I don't have a seminary background and my exegetical skills are deficient, at best, due to my lack of training in systematic theology, hermeneutics and classic languages, I guess I'm a good person to review a book that has more depth than any other book I have read. So, with that disclaimer, enjoy my review.
Rob Bell is smarter than I am. He has extensive Biblical knowledge so I won't attempt to argue any of his points. He also has a knack for presenting thought provoking questions. I first became aware of his "Nooma" series when I was in college and found myself asking many of the questions he asks. This is what ultimately lead me to reading Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. Well, that and the fact that he is being attacked by nearly every prominent member of the Evangelical world. Does a loving God send people to hell for an eternity? This is a question that I have asked time and time again and I knew this book wrestled with this same question, so I went for it.
I had heard commentary and read a few reviews about the book that said Bell was suggesting at the possibility of hinting that there could be a valid reason to ask the question about the question related to the idea that no one goes to "hell." I was intrigued, but didn't pursue much because rock star pastors are always taken out of context and are unreasonably questioned by skeptics. So I simply put Bell (and this book) into that category and moved on with my life. Then, I went to his church - Mars Hill Bible Church - in Grand Rapids, Michigan and talked to some dear friends who had read the book. Suddenly, I became very interested in this "controversy" and debate. I knew I had to see for myself what the book said, so I did the best that I knew how to block out all of the other voices in order to draw conclusions of the book on my own. I also prayed that God would let the scriptures formulate my opinion, not Rob Bell or any other pastor.
Bell's style is to ask questions. Lots of questions. I appreciate that because I do the same thing. He answers questions with more questions pulling you deeper into the story because you want answers, not more questions. He really doesn't offer many answers, but the way he phrases the questions leads to me to believe that he is hinting at something closely related to what I understand to be "universalism." Christian Univeralism is basically a school of thought that believes in universal reconciliation, or that every human being will be restored to right relationship with God. This was clearly articulated in this book. He wasn't clear on many things because he asked a lot of questions, but he does claim universal reconciliation. This is extremely appealing to many because it's difficult to have standards and accountability if, in the end, everyone gets the prize. I grew up in a church that basically taught that we could think anything we wanted to about God, Jesus and the Bible and in the end we were all good. This is obviously convenient in a world full of sinners - for which I am one. It misses the essence of Jesus, though. Why church and why Jesus if none of it matters?
This book made me think about what I believe the Bible says on many issues and who I believe Jesus to be. I'm not frightened by this. I think Jesus actively pushed people to question the status quo. He did more than anyone else. I welcome books or talks or people who challenge my faith. However, two things did scare me about this book. The first one is how arrogant we can be as created beings. We think that if it doesn't look right to us, or doesn't feel right, than God must be wrong. It's a bold statement, but I see a lot of it everywhere, not just in this book. Would God do something that I wouldn't do? That is what's being asked in this book. Does God care about people as much as I do? That's at the root. Again, I don't have any theological training, however, after reading the Bible for myself, I'm certain God cares more than I do and I'm also certain that His understanding of the world and eternity is far superior to mine. So, just because it's uncomfortable and scary doesn't mean it isn't true. Just because it's not appealing doesn't mean it isn't true. And just because I wouldn't do something if I were in God's shoes doesn't mean it's not perfect and holy. For me to even think I can put myself in God's shoes is a major problem. I don't want to be that arrogant. I guess this is my problem with Christian Universalism (which is an oxymoron, by the way). We don't get to make up our own version of God's Word to fit our circumstances.
The second thing that scares me is how quickly people are to jump on Rob Bell, the person, in response to this while attacking his claims and stance. The first thing that came to my mind when I heard one person rebuke the book was, "Oh crap! Have I become an accidental Pharisee?" As in, am I in the camp that thinks we have it all figured out? Would I be like those people who attacked Jesus for making huge and sweeping statements about what scripture says? Would I attack Jesus if he came to my church and told me I couldn't drink coffee during the service or that I have it all wrong? Am I a part of a community that believes what other people say about the Bible more than what the Bible is actually saying? This is a gentle warning that I'm not about to take lightly.
I don't agree with everything Bell has written in his interpretation of scripture, but then again, I'm not sure if I agree with all of my interpretations, either. This is precisely the point that I think is important for me to realize in reviewing this book. I'm not clear on what the Bible says in many places. And with many of the references in Love Wins, I'm flat out confused. What I do know, however, is that I'm not privileged to put my spin on what the Bible says because I either don't like it or don't get it. Strangely, the feeling that I'm left with after reading this book is that we get to put whatever spin on this whole thing that we find most pleasurable and enjoyable right now. Rob Bell says that "the Good News is that Love Wins," but the feeling I got is that the book is saying People Win. It might be one in the same. I'm not certain. Can God win, love win and people win all at the same time? Again, I'm not sure.
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text.
Hermeneutics is the study of the theory and practice of interpretation. Traditional hermeneutics—which includes Biblical hermeneutics—refers to the study of the interpretation of written texts, especially texts in the areas of literature, religion and law.
Rob Bell is smarter than I am. He has extensive Biblical knowledge so I won't attempt to argue any of his points. He also has a knack for presenting thought provoking questions. I first became aware of his "Nooma" series when I was in college and found myself asking many of the questions he asks. This is what ultimately lead me to reading Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. Well, that and the fact that he is being attacked by nearly every prominent member of the Evangelical world. Does a loving God send people to hell for an eternity? This is a question that I have asked time and time again and I knew this book wrestled with this same question, so I went for it.
I had heard commentary and read a few reviews about the book that said Bell was suggesting at the possibility of hinting that there could be a valid reason to ask the question about the question related to the idea that no one goes to "hell." I was intrigued, but didn't pursue much because rock star pastors are always taken out of context and are unreasonably questioned by skeptics. So I simply put Bell (and this book) into that category and moved on with my life. Then, I went to his church - Mars Hill Bible Church - in Grand Rapids, Michigan and talked to some dear friends who had read the book. Suddenly, I became very interested in this "controversy" and debate. I knew I had to see for myself what the book said, so I did the best that I knew how to block out all of the other voices in order to draw conclusions of the book on my own. I also prayed that God would let the scriptures formulate my opinion, not Rob Bell or any other pastor.
Bell's style is to ask questions. Lots of questions. I appreciate that because I do the same thing. He answers questions with more questions pulling you deeper into the story because you want answers, not more questions. He really doesn't offer many answers, but the way he phrases the questions leads to me to believe that he is hinting at something closely related to what I understand to be "universalism." Christian Univeralism is basically a school of thought that believes in universal reconciliation, or that every human being will be restored to right relationship with God. This was clearly articulated in this book. He wasn't clear on many things because he asked a lot of questions, but he does claim universal reconciliation. This is extremely appealing to many because it's difficult to have standards and accountability if, in the end, everyone gets the prize. I grew up in a church that basically taught that we could think anything we wanted to about God, Jesus and the Bible and in the end we were all good. This is obviously convenient in a world full of sinners - for which I am one. It misses the essence of Jesus, though. Why church and why Jesus if none of it matters?
This book made me think about what I believe the Bible says on many issues and who I believe Jesus to be. I'm not frightened by this. I think Jesus actively pushed people to question the status quo. He did more than anyone else. I welcome books or talks or people who challenge my faith. However, two things did scare me about this book. The first one is how arrogant we can be as created beings. We think that if it doesn't look right to us, or doesn't feel right, than God must be wrong. It's a bold statement, but I see a lot of it everywhere, not just in this book. Would God do something that I wouldn't do? That is what's being asked in this book. Does God care about people as much as I do? That's at the root. Again, I don't have any theological training, however, after reading the Bible for myself, I'm certain God cares more than I do and I'm also certain that His understanding of the world and eternity is far superior to mine. So, just because it's uncomfortable and scary doesn't mean it isn't true. Just because it's not appealing doesn't mean it isn't true. And just because I wouldn't do something if I were in God's shoes doesn't mean it's not perfect and holy. For me to even think I can put myself in God's shoes is a major problem. I don't want to be that arrogant. I guess this is my problem with Christian Universalism (which is an oxymoron, by the way). We don't get to make up our own version of God's Word to fit our circumstances.
The second thing that scares me is how quickly people are to jump on Rob Bell, the person, in response to this while attacking his claims and stance. The first thing that came to my mind when I heard one person rebuke the book was, "Oh crap! Have I become an accidental Pharisee?" As in, am I in the camp that thinks we have it all figured out? Would I be like those people who attacked Jesus for making huge and sweeping statements about what scripture says? Would I attack Jesus if he came to my church and told me I couldn't drink coffee during the service or that I have it all wrong? Am I a part of a community that believes what other people say about the Bible more than what the Bible is actually saying? This is a gentle warning that I'm not about to take lightly.
I don't agree with everything Bell has written in his interpretation of scripture, but then again, I'm not sure if I agree with all of my interpretations, either. This is precisely the point that I think is important for me to realize in reviewing this book. I'm not clear on what the Bible says in many places. And with many of the references in Love Wins, I'm flat out confused. What I do know, however, is that I'm not privileged to put my spin on what the Bible says because I either don't like it or don't get it. Strangely, the feeling that I'm left with after reading this book is that we get to put whatever spin on this whole thing that we find most pleasurable and enjoyable right now. Rob Bell says that "the Good News is that Love Wins," but the feeling I got is that the book is saying People Win. It might be one in the same. I'm not certain. Can God win, love win and people win all at the same time? Again, I'm not sure.
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text.
Hermeneutics is the study of the theory and practice of interpretation. Traditional hermeneutics—which includes Biblical hermeneutics—refers to the study of the interpretation of written texts, especially texts in the areas of literature, religion and law.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
You would have done the same
This past weekend we traveled to Michigan for a wedding and on the way back to Wisconsin, we received a phone call from an individual we had met the night before. She was on her way back to Milwaukee and experienced car troubles on the interstate. She was just outside of Chicago and had pulled over in the midst of busy four-lane traffic. She was distraught and didn't know what to do, so we rushed to rescue her.
We were anxiously looking forward to getting back home to see our children. It had already been a very long weekend, but we knew we needed to help her. By the time we had called a tow truck, went to the repair shop and dropped her off at a relative's house in the area, we had added nearly four hours to our trip and pushed our ETA back to well after our kid's bed time. Knowing full well that was going to be the case, we felt blessed to help.
Often times, in similar situations, I've heard the helper respond to the many thanks with, "you would have done the same." Maybe that's true, but it misses the point and is motivated by false pretense. The big question is: will you still offer help if you know they, in fact, wouldn't do the same? I love the idea of paying it forward, but that's not what Jesus did. He straight-up paid it. As a Christ follower, I shouldn't be helping others resting in the comfort that someone will, in turn, help me sometime. I should just help others. Period.
We were anxiously looking forward to getting back home to see our children. It had already been a very long weekend, but we knew we needed to help her. By the time we had called a tow truck, went to the repair shop and dropped her off at a relative's house in the area, we had added nearly four hours to our trip and pushed our ETA back to well after our kid's bed time. Knowing full well that was going to be the case, we felt blessed to help.
Often times, in similar situations, I've heard the helper respond to the many thanks with, "you would have done the same." Maybe that's true, but it misses the point and is motivated by false pretense. The big question is: will you still offer help if you know they, in fact, wouldn't do the same? I love the idea of paying it forward, but that's not what Jesus did. He straight-up paid it. As a Christ follower, I shouldn't be helping others resting in the comfort that someone will, in turn, help me sometime. I should just help others. Period.
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