-i'm mad at spring. under no circumstances should the words "wintry mix" be allowed once spring starts. and yet there it is, staring at me from it's spot on the forecast right under the words "high of 39 degrees" in tomorrow's' forecast. it's about this time of the year that i begin wondering if there is as need for methodist pastors in the caribbean.
grace methodist church, bermuda
-if anyone follows the happenings in the christian culture, then you've undoubtedly read about the controversy surrounding rob bell's new book "love wins," which just came out. for weeks before its release it has been a hot topic, as many of the more conservative voices have been calling him a heretic (again). this time the accusations are that he has become a universalist, or that his new book, which deals with topics of heaven and hell, teaches universalism. i haven't read the book yet, so i comment on that in particular, but i can say this: the words "love wins" do an absolutely fabulous job of summing up my theology. that's what i believe about God and the universe - that in the end, love wins. for me to believe that, and yet still believe that God will allow millions of souls to burn in eternal torment and suffering, is a very difficult line to walk theologically. i'm not saying it can't be done, but it certainly seems like it is something worth asking some questions about, and as i understand it, that's all bell is doing in this latest book. he's asking questions. he's looking for truth in the gray areas of our doctrine, and not being afraid to ask the hard questions. i have no idea who will end up in heaven or hell, and the moment i start to pretend like i do is the moment i need to seriously reflect on the state of my own heart/life, but i do believe this: love wins. i'll be reading the book at some point, and i'm sure i'll have some more commentary then.
-tomorrow i'll be teaching on the sevens. at 7am i'm doing a devotion at one of the lutheran churches in town at a lenten breakfast they'll be holding. i'll be teaching/talking about the part of the lord's prayer where Jesus teaches us to say, "thy kingdom come." then, at 7pm i'll be preaching at my own church, continuing my lenten series on experiencing the "5 senses of the passion." we'll be taking a look at this whole passion narrative through the lens of hearing. with all of that, plus preparation for more evening services, my regualar sunday services, and maundy thursday and good friday services, i'm going to need a vacation when easter is over. maybe to bermuda?
- i saw hines ward on dancing with the stars last night. no, i'm not watching that show. i just can't bring myself to do it. but shannon had it on while she was reading and she called me in to see hines when his turn to dance came. after he finished, the judges said things like, "sparkly," "light on your feet," and "you need to pump your hips like a piston." sigh. still, i was happy to see franco there waving a terrible towel, and i hope hines is at least mildly successful, but i sort of hope he doesn't get too far into the competition because then i might actually have to watch, and i'm not sure i can handle that.
-now listening to: sleeping at last's march ep
-now reading: the girl who played with fire by stieg larsson, the yellow leaves by frederick buechner
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