Defending Rob Bell...

Not that Rob Bell needs me to defend him, but i just am tired of all the mean, and slanderous stuff out there that is truly not of Jesus. The last thing i want to do is turn this into a Rob Bell fanboy site, (not that anybody is reading what i post anyhow) however, I feel like i have to put this out there.

I believe Rob is pointing people to Jesus. 3 years ago i was very far from Jesus, and one night i stumbled upon the Mars Hill website and started downloading. after listening to rob's teachings, specifically his "mastering the art of living" series, i began to have a new and richer understanding of what it means to be a follow of Jesus. I have listened to every teaching of his i could get my hands on in the last 3 years. He has opened my eyes to scripture in ways i have never thought about before. I have embraced his teachings, because through his speech, my faith has been made stronger.

My friend and pastor (same guy) have been going round and round about Rob over the past few weeks, and now I found all these angry posts on the internet about How Rob is "not a christian" and "the gods should be angry". There are several sites and articles out there that have tons of Negative material regarding his teachings, and quotes from interviews. It is sad. I don't know why people feel like they have to dissect or debunk everything some pastors/teachers/communicators have to say. I guess it is the same motive that makes me sit here at 3:20 in the morning and write this.

I have no Seminary degree, I have not been alone in a room with rob bell, i cannot pull a book of hebrew writings off my shelf to back up what I say, But i can tell you that in the many many teachings that i have heard from the man, I do not get the controversy, or the heresy. I here a guy explaining jesus in ways that have not been communicated before (although you can skip the teaching from phillipians where he basically does a monologue as paul, he's eating an apple really really loud, and i wanted to grab him through the ipod and smack that apple out of his hand)

I was explaining to my friend a couple days ago, that what I hear is a guy teaching a lifestyle of submission and repentance that will, if investigated, and sought after will bring you to Jesus Christ. I find it incredibly interesting that there are so many vocal critics out there, and I have not once heard him respond. I have also not once heard him make political statements about the church, the emerging church, or against other pastors. I also listen to a guy named Mark Driscoll every week. Hes a phenomenal speaker as well. Polar opposite Of rob bell, and a couple weeks ago, he preached an entire sermon on the the emerging/emergent church and he called Rob out, as a Heretic.

watch the video clip up above, he is talking about jesus, and seeing life as a spiritual journey. I have seen some people claim that this makes Rob a universalist. I don't think that is the case. I See this as having a very perceptive, and conteptual view of reality and sprirtuality.

I believe Rob Bell is purposely approaching the gospel and Christianity from a truly subversive viewpoint. The point (as i see it) is searching for truth and providing a place/space where people ask questions and discover who God is.

I pray for Rob, and his ministry and His marriage, I do...I also pray that if i have been miselead, if i am wrong, that my eyes will be opened to this. I encourage all the critics and supporters alike to lift this guy up to the Father.

Desmond Is Jesus

I know this is Shocking...and when i said it last night my wife was like "WHAT"? But don't get too crazy, this is not a plot spolier...last night I was flipping channels and I saw Desmond (from LOST) on the Jesus channel...playing Jesus in the story of "John". I thought wouldn't it be fascinating to talk to this guy to see if his portrayal of jesus had any affect on his thoughts on life, love, religion, acting what have you...So as futile as it may be...i'll try to contact him and ask him some questions. Could prove to be utterly pointless, but it could also be very interesting...

Peasant Kitty

pea

The 5 year old daughter is learning how to operate the video camera. This was her second "shoot"...She's kind of a natural.

Philly keeps getting bigger...

So check this out. The City I love is about to get a new building. I don't think they've even screwed the last screw in the wall at the Comcast Center yet, and a newer, bigger, ballsier building is moving into the neighborhood. They are calling it the American Commerce Center. I have no idea what that means, but I do know it means Philly keeps getting new skyscrapers, and that means property values keep going up. As I watched the Comcast Center being built i kept noticing how it was dwarfing the rest of the buildings in the city, and now this thing is going to make the comcast center look like a lego building. At 1500 feet it is about 450 feet taller. I think it's pretty cool. And I am pretty sure this one I am going to be able to see from my bedroom window.

Philly is Dirty...

Some folks even call it 'filthadelphia" So, get out your broom and rake. The new mayor thinks it is time to get everyone in the city to get out and clean up the neighborhood. The goal is to clean up 5,000 city blocks. I hope this works. I love this city, and i would love to see everyone here take some pride and get out there and put theoir own effort into making it better.

So, Philly go sign up for a location in your neighborhood, and make this city awesome.

insomnia and music

It's 4:18 am and i am sitting with the laptop in the bed. I worked a 14 hour day today, i got home around 1 am, and now i am still awake. My child is going to come walking in here in a little bit, wanting to go to dunkin donuts, and i am going to be wiped out. I am listening to "The National" they make sweet beautiful music that i hope can sooth me to sleep. Their album "Boxer" was on my top 7 ( i couldn't find 10) list for 2007. Its a few months past, but I think I'll share my thoughts from last years music here:

This was originally written on Dec 18 2007, as a letter to a friend who is a fan of music and shares his love of music with me every December. It's become a sort of tradition.

I guess my the overwhelming theme for Musical Enjoyment of Choice for 2007 has been "story driven indie rock vulnerability"

These are in no particular order.

Bishop Allen and the Broken String
Okkervil river: The Stage Names

Radiohead: In Rainbows

LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver
Band of Horses: Cease to Begin
Feist: The Reminder
The National: Boxer

Bishop Allen is great. It fills a need for flutes, trumpets, banjo, and songs about civil war ships. I just stumbled on this a couple weeks ago. Then tonight i here the 3rd song on the cd, on a sony camera commercial. It has a slight Sufjan Stevens vibe, for a couple songs...pretty, jangly, and sadly fun.

Okkervil River Has lots of piano, Great drums and I love the 2nd song. The drums are super, the bass drum has no "Dampening" and kind of bongs like a marching bass drum. Makes for very good foot stomping

Radiohead: Brilliant. This takes me through all kinds of emotional levels. I like this so much better than the last 2 Radiohead albums. The Reckoning takes me to a happy place.

LCD Soundsystem is awesome to ride my bike home to. I have Key points along the way home that i measure my pace by which song i am on. This is not "story driven indie rock vulnerability" but it's fast and drives me to ride fast.

Band Of Horses: I don't want to like this. I read an interview with Ben whatever his name is and I thought he was a giant twit. But this is so good. I can listen to it over and over again. This would be the Highlight of the "vulnerability" i was talking about. It's the Voice. I know its like the "single" but "Is there a ghost" is almost chilling. I am really into listening to music that makes me feel like crying. This song puts me there. The beginning guitars on "no ones gonna love you" lull me into that place too.

Feist: Is pure fun. Her voice is girly and nice, I bought it for kristin for her birthday and I put it on my ipod and kept it in the rotation for a while.

The National: It kind of feels interpol-ish to me in spots. Its that whole deep voice joy division thing. Low, Slow and depressing stylings make me happy. I'm a kid who grew up on the cure and depeche mode. What do you want from me?


**Now I like the New Arcade Fire Album, I bought it the day it was released, and after I read your list the other day, i dusted it off and listened to it again. The Pipe organ is a very nice touch, and the brutal honesty in the songs is compelling. It's good, but I am tainted by the stories he tells. He's kind of bitter, usually this make for good song writing, this time I'm not so down with it. I loved the first album from them. A friend of mine went to see them here and Win Butler was tearing up Bibles on stage. I just lost interest.

Is God Out There?

why is it that the days that I pray for nothing but
for god to fill me up I feel the most abandoned by him?

I need Jesus this morning. I don't know where he is:


I am so far from you right now.
I can't possibly know
what are you doing lord
where this path should go
my heart is full of empty
my love runs on the main
my life is turned and twisted
and I can't feel again
this pain inside my heart lord
why cant you make it go
this fear inside my heart lord
please take it from me low

you, you are the only one
who can walk me through this hell
but I don't know where to find you.
I don't know how to tell

where are you my god, my jesus
where is your loving hand
where is this safety net you hung for me

where Is my bird in hand?