The naked GOSPEL

The naked GOSPEL

the truth you may never hear in church

by Andrew Farley

On page 27, Andrew Farley has the reader take a quiz entitled “The Naked Gospel Quiz”.  The outcome of this quiz literally blew me away.  I had my husband take the quiz with similar results.  According to Andrew Farley, most the things that we had been taught during our time of becoming disciples of Jesus in the evangelical church were untrue.  They were not biblical, not found anywhere in scripture, but instead man-made concepts which we had incorporated into our understanding of what it meant to be a “good Christian”.  Needless to say, I was hooked.  I had to find out if this author was crazy or if he was correct in his claims.  I couldn’t put the book down that night, hungrily devouring chapter after chapter.  According to this book, Jesus is enough!  But we as the church have tried to incorporate a system of expected behaviors which combine both the good news of Jesus with the law of the Old Testament.  This has led believers down a confused path of grace mixed with legalism.  By reading this section of the book, I experienced a new found sense of freedom.  The author backs up his claims with scripture and many times refers to the historical setting that the scripture was written in or the people it was directed at.  He also interjects personal stories and experiences which keep the reader connected to him and the book.  I will say the book bogged down some for me in the middle as he seemed to repeat some of the concepts again.  Also, during part 4, burning martryoshkas, I did not believe he hit the mark concerning sin in relation to ourselves.  I felt he was merely playing with semantics and did not convince me of his point.  The book finished strong with part 6, we don’t marry dead people and part 7, ego assault.  These sections emphasized Jesus, his death and resurrection and the New Covenant.  I think this book is a must read for anyone who has been a part of the traditional church and feels burdened by the inability to measure up.  It resembles another of my favorite books, Messy Spirituality by Mike Yaconelli, in that both books emphasize that we can never ever measure up to our man made standards, and we shouldn’t have to.  Jesus did it all and we actually disrespect his sacrifice by trying to add to that with our own rules.  Jesus plus nothing, how exciting is that!  This book would be excellent for small group study and discussions and discussion questions are included in the back of the book for each chapter.

The Book of the Shepherd Review

The Book of the Shepherd by The Scribe

This book, advocating grace instead of the law is well suited to me as I need extra grace for submitting this review approximately 2 months late.  Moving past that introduction, I have to give this book mixed reviews.  While a quick and easy read, the book was engaging at the start but then my interest began to wane as the book seemed to lose it way.  I loved the stories of the different characters and the messages they conveyed, which kept me engaged and looking for the wisdom in each story.  The plot then becomes simplistic with the main characters suddenly “falling in love” and promising themselves to each other after Joshua ventures into the cave, if Joshua returns safely. This is seemingly a quick infatuation without substance or story to substantiate the relationship.  And the discovery of the treasure is relatively easy so that it leaves one wondering why it had not been found earlier.  Surely overcoming the pit in the cave and knowing when to enter could have been figured out by any astute observer.  The ‘great treasure” found, the parchment with the Law of Substitution, seems anti-climatic after the characters undertake such a journey culminated by entering the dangerous cave.  The messages of the story are a bit confusing, mixing biblical principle references to those of everyone having power.  The book states that everyone has the potential to be the “one” that can make the difference, when biblically there is only “One”.  This story lacks the depth and truth to have the powerful impact that a book like “The Shack” had.

Shane Claiborne and Rob Bell

This was an incredibly memorable week as I was privileged and challenged to hear both Shane Claiborne and Rob Bell, two of my favorite authors speak.  Due to a facebook post, I learned that Shane would be speaking at Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte and the event was free.  So my husband and I loaded up our van with four youth and headed out on Sunday night.  We arrived about 35 minutes before the event was to begin and were able to snag seats in the front row.  Two of the youth we took, were what those who categorize would call “unchurched”. Yet they were ready to travel with us to an event in a church to hear a guy in homemade clothes share about this Jesus that he loves and adores.  Shane in his passionate manner presented many amazing truths about how we should be Jesus to the downcast, the unlovable, the untouchables…He answered pointed questions with wisdom and grace.  He inspired yet challenged.  He humbly made us laugh and cry in the same short time span.  Thank you to this church who allowed it’s Jubilee Hall to resonate with words that encouraged us to make a huge difference if we would allow ourselves to love with a  love passionate enough that requires nothing less than action.  Thank you to Shane who travels endlessly to share the message that he has been called to share.  The message that can change the mindset of this generation of youth so that they can shun consumerism and instead minister to those most in need.  That they can refuse to settle for products manufactured by slave labor just to save a buck.  That they can realize the earth is a gift and must be treated as such.

Then to end the week, on Friday night, my husband and I traveled once again to Charlotte but in a completely different setting.  This event required purchased tickets and was held in an auditorium.  But like on Sunday, I left with my mind and heart challenged and like a thirsty sponge which had been drenched with water, ready to do the work of sharing what I had been blessed to receive.  Rob Bell, an author, speaker, pastor, eloquently and engagingly took on the subject of suffering from a “what next?” instead of “why?’ perspective.  He bonded the audience together with seemingly simple but powerful object lessons and illustrations.  Everyone now wonders what their soap will look like and feels closer to a stranger whose 3 X 5 notecard they now possess.  I cannot remove the image of Rob in the hallways of the hospital as he became one with the picture projected behind him.  I also am encouraged that the so called failures in my life not failures at all according to the God who wastes nothing but instead events that have been used to shape me into the woman that God desires for me to be.  I am so thankful that my week was filled with the wisdom of God that these two men shared.  May I continue to ponder these words but at the same time be ready to be called to act.  For we need to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

24-7 Charlotte

Art by one of our young adults at 24-7 Charlotte

Last night I had the privilege of spending time in one of my new favorite places, 24-7  Charlotte( http://www.charlotte24-7.com/main.html)and also of taking three young adults who had never visited there.  It takes awhile after arrival for me to leave the craziness of the work day behind and begin to focus on what God would have for me at this sacred space on this particular night.  But once I release the thoughts swirling in my head by visiting a few of the booths, reading, listening, watching, taking communion, then I begin to journal.  And God begins to speak, I pour out my heart in my writing and as I write, the message from God becomes clearer and clearer.  And then I travel to another booth where a poster catches my eyes, as I read I realize that the message is potent.  Break my heart with the things that break yours Lord.  Lord do I really want to embrace this prayer?  But then how can I not?  How can I haughtily ignore the suffering when I myself have been blessed over and over.  At the end of our time there, we gathered for a few brief words together about the experience.  One of the new visitors said that she cried, another stated that he found it peaceful and that it was “straight”.  Thank you God for the opportunity to drive to Charlotte to allow young men and women an encounter with you; may you break down the walls that you began to crack.

Hello world!

Ok, I am now officially a blogger.  I will endeavor to make my posts relevant but also informative.