hope.

[bellarapture7]

Monday evening,

i watched yet another reason why i like trees. i'm thinking that they're the tallest organic piece of nature that can have the last bit of sun touching its living, breathing tips, while being rooted/firmly planted and sunk into the dirt of the ground. What else other than a tree can claim that? Everything around me was in shade

Comments

[gregoryness]

Wonderful, poignant teaching! Do you think Rob's attitude and approach to Christian faith is the exception or more of the norm in the faith circles you've been involved in?

[bellarapture7]

Overall - meaning, considering everything i've heard him teach -- i'd say he's an exception, especially in the way he views heaven & hell & this earth. i still haven't fully gotten my head wrapped around it all, because i'm not quick to jump on the bandwagon of just casually believing whatever anyone preaches. BUT, i have never heard a sermon of his or read a book of his that didn't get me amped about God or likewise, pointed me in a harmful direction (& i've read *almost* everything he's published and listening to as much of his teachings i could get my hands on!). Lots of people (christians) really didn't like him (perhaps, still don't) when he started becoming popular.

[gregoryness]

I can understand how a lot of conservative groups would view his approach as radical and even feel threatened by it. From what I heard though, it's the type of approach I can really appreciate and relate to! You know when you hear something profound that really affirms what you've come to believe and know in your heart? Well, much of what he said in this sermon resonated with me in that way. It's not because what he's saying is entirely new to me, but he's saying it through the Christian message in ways I've never heard it expressed before. His life-affirming, all-encompassing, realignment of focus on the here and now is what I've felt is vital for a long time. And unfortunately, as he talked about in this sermon, a lot of Christians are still wrapped up in trying to *escape* the problems of the world instead of trying to bring about an ongoing, God-inspired creation now.

[bellarapture7]

Word. It's not because what he's saying is entirely new to me, but he's saying it through the Christian message in ways I've never heard it expressed before. That's what i like about him. He doesn't boast about having a new wisdom to share. i remember him saying, in an interview (i think it was to the Relevant podcast crew) that he's not communicating anything groundbreakingly new. The foundation of the truth is still there, that has always been there. i guess that would be the challenge of any teacher/pastor - to take what has always been true and communicate it in a way that relates how exciting it was, as when it was first discovered as true