I am glad that this is our first book for the summer because it has so much to offer and think about! Greg's answers to his father's challenging questions are very interesting to see him take a very in-depth and practical view of God and the gospel. Other Christians may just say things without taking into account the bigger view, like his dad noted. I think a lot of his explanations and clarifications can help me and others understand more and consider different aspects of the gospel and God.
Part 1:
In the first couple of correspondents there is a lot of discussion of love and the freedom of love. The question is brought up about how evil and suffering can exist with God. From his explanation and the world around us we can see just how evil we all can be. There is so much hate, violence, and anger in this world, that love may at times seems scarce. But as we read and know this is a choice we make, to choose to love or hurt, and like Greg shares it is a risk that God took with us. All of us have that potential inside to do harm and many have done harm, although we may not realize it at first. "If we have the potential to oppress or slay millions, it's because we also have the potential to liberate and love millions" (Correspondence 3, page 34). It is interesting the take that God took a risk when creating us, just as we now take risks in relationships. He took that risk, and now we have the choice to love those around us as He calls us to in many different places in the Bible.
I am so amazed by the amount of love that has been showed to me while I am so undeserving. Those who have loved me choose to, as I chose to love, and I think God has really loved me through people. In the recent months and weeks I have experienced so much love that others did not have to give. It is far better to show this love then to harm those around us, and from this I along with others can experience the richness of relationships that we are able to create.
From correspondent 4, Greg brought his perspective that God does not really know the future or that He is not all knowing of our future. When, in Jeremiah 29:11 it talks about the plans God has for us, is it talking generally about the good that He hopes will be in our lives or the things that He does have in store for our futures? We are given free will for our choices, and this may be why God does not know our set future since our decision may shape our future (Page 38). Greg does provide additional sources so they may be helpful, but does anyone have their take on this topic?
Happy reading,
Clare
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Monday, April 25, 2016
Love's Persistence by K.M.
First, thanks to Jackie for creating this blog.
Far from finishing Letters from a Skeptic, I have already had my heart wrenched, not by the intellectual substance in the book—abundant and convincing though it was—but by Dr. Greg Boyd's persistent love for his father. The true feat of this book is the heart behind it, not the mind. Answering trenchant, intellectually rigorous questions for three years requires a sharp mind to be sure, but without an impetus commensurate with the intellectual challenge, Dr. Greg Boyd would have thrown in the towel and the discussion petered out, ending in, I can only assume, what is far too common to my conversion efforts—an ugly welter of doubt, frustration, unanswered questions, and so on—especially since the questions were often derogatory.
Not every attempt to reach out to someone—or to reach into someone (which, on a side note, I think is a more suitable description of evangelism)—has to be successful, it won't, and chiseling at granite, of which the heart is made, can be frustrating, but how often do I really pour out my heart? Considered in connection with Alive, and my subsequent complacency, this question feels like a scorching rebuke. It was easy enough to hand out those flyers when the entire church was doing it. Alive was a blast. Immediately after the performance, riding high on adrenaline and relief, I struck up a couple spiritual conversations with the friends I invited. I went back home and went to bed feeling great. But then a week went by, then another. The past few years of my life are strewn with conversations I never followed up on. Something needs to change—but what? I think to answer the question, I need to address another question: Why do I want to love?
I have received God's love, and I am a person who, cannot fathom, but can recognize God's love for me. I believe that God loves me so much that he gave his one and only son to die for me on the cross. I am a sinner whose God's persistent love has pierced. Pastor Timothy gave a message on God's persistent love for us—God is the unrelenting hound of heaven. God did not hold back on me when he gave his beloved son. That is why I want to love.
I don't think it's a matter of trying harder. I don't think I am capable of love like that. The difference between the love I am capable of and the love that God requires is a difference of kind, not of degree. And I think that this different kind of love, this truly persistent love that I want is found only in God Himself. So, it is in truly understanding God's love for me that I am empowered to truly love, and love persistently.
God gave me everything. How could I give any less?
Far from finishing Letters from a Skeptic, I have already had my heart wrenched, not by the intellectual substance in the book—abundant and convincing though it was—but by Dr. Greg Boyd's persistent love for his father. The true feat of this book is the heart behind it, not the mind. Answering trenchant, intellectually rigorous questions for three years requires a sharp mind to be sure, but without an impetus commensurate with the intellectual challenge, Dr. Greg Boyd would have thrown in the towel and the discussion petered out, ending in, I can only assume, what is far too common to my conversion efforts—an ugly welter of doubt, frustration, unanswered questions, and so on—especially since the questions were often derogatory.
Not every attempt to reach out to someone—or to reach into someone (which, on a side note, I think is a more suitable description of evangelism)—has to be successful, it won't, and chiseling at granite, of which the heart is made, can be frustrating, but how often do I really pour out my heart? Considered in connection with Alive, and my subsequent complacency, this question feels like a scorching rebuke. It was easy enough to hand out those flyers when the entire church was doing it. Alive was a blast. Immediately after the performance, riding high on adrenaline and relief, I struck up a couple spiritual conversations with the friends I invited. I went back home and went to bed feeling great. But then a week went by, then another. The past few years of my life are strewn with conversations I never followed up on. Something needs to change—but what? I think to answer the question, I need to address another question: Why do I want to love?
I have received God's love, and I am a person who, cannot fathom, but can recognize God's love for me. I believe that God loves me so much that he gave his one and only son to die for me on the cross. I am a sinner whose God's persistent love has pierced. Pastor Timothy gave a message on God's persistent love for us—God is the unrelenting hound of heaven. God did not hold back on me when he gave his beloved son. That is why I want to love.
I don't think it's a matter of trying harder. I don't think I am capable of love like that. The difference between the love I am capable of and the love that God requires is a difference of kind, not of degree. And I think that this different kind of love, this truly persistent love that I want is found only in God Himself. So, it is in truly understanding God's love for me that I am empowered to truly love, and love persistently.
God gave me everything. How could I give any less?
K.M.
04.25.2016
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Letters from a Skeptics Blog Post (J.W.)
Hi,
I am honored to post the first ever blog post on this book. Below I will input my thoughts and insights I gained from the book just for sharing. Please excuse my grammar :)
First, I have to say that this is really an awesome and eye-opening book. I started reading after April, 5th of 2016 and ended today (April 6th of 2016). This book serves as an excellent guide for our non-Christians friends or family members we have.
I don't want to make this blog post as an summary focus of each chapter since that will be pretty boring. I think it would be better if I picked one or two points I think is an idea worth sharing for Christians.
1. "Much of the materials in the Bible only begins to make sense after one's heart has been touched by the Lord" (152).
Why does this matters? well I think for me this is quite true as to how I view the Bible before I really converted to a real Chrisitan. Reading the stories and parables of Bible used to make me feel like reading something that has nothing to do with my life. It feels like if Jesus is just doing his own thing(like the phrase let you do you), and I would just keep on doing my own business. Oh, I don't know how I have to thank for how God has changed my life and in a way change the way I view the Bible.
2. "His(Author's father) response floored me. Sitting in his wheelchair, wearing diapers, unable to do anything but the most elementary tasks for himself, nearly totally blind and deaf, this once-malcontented man said in his stroke-impaired speech, 'Because I feel so blessed by God just to be here' " (235).
I think this is such an encouraging scene to watch as to how a gospel can change someone who as "once arrogant, intellectual giant" (234) to someone who trusted God so much as his son did. It really urges me to spread the gospel to my family members, especially my dad, who is still a seeker.
Anyways, I think this is good for our first blog post. I don't want to overwhelm you guys. And I certainly don't want you guys to regard this as a template to follow for the future posts. Being said, there is no words limit or citation or anything. Just feel free to share what is going on in your minds and I believe this will be a really encouraging to what you guys have to say about this book. I think by sharing, our class can also grow in light of his words as a whole through great books like this.
---J.W.
I am honored to post the first ever blog post on this book. Below I will input my thoughts and insights I gained from the book just for sharing. Please excuse my grammar :)
First, I have to say that this is really an awesome and eye-opening book. I started reading after April, 5th of 2016 and ended today (April 6th of 2016). This book serves as an excellent guide for our non-Christians friends or family members we have.
I don't want to make this blog post as an summary focus of each chapter since that will be pretty boring. I think it would be better if I picked one or two points I think is an idea worth sharing for Christians.
1. "Much of the materials in the Bible only begins to make sense after one's heart has been touched by the Lord" (152).
Why does this matters? well I think for me this is quite true as to how I view the Bible before I really converted to a real Chrisitan. Reading the stories and parables of Bible used to make me feel like reading something that has nothing to do with my life. It feels like if Jesus is just doing his own thing(like the phrase let you do you), and I would just keep on doing my own business. Oh, I don't know how I have to thank for how God has changed my life and in a way change the way I view the Bible.
2. "His(Author's father) response floored me. Sitting in his wheelchair, wearing diapers, unable to do anything but the most elementary tasks for himself, nearly totally blind and deaf, this once-malcontented man said in his stroke-impaired speech, 'Because I feel so blessed by God just to be here' " (235).
I think this is such an encouraging scene to watch as to how a gospel can change someone who as "once arrogant, intellectual giant" (234) to someone who trusted God so much as his son did. It really urges me to spread the gospel to my family members, especially my dad, who is still a seeker.
Anyways, I think this is good for our first blog post. I don't want to overwhelm you guys. And I certainly don't want you guys to regard this as a template to follow for the future posts. Being said, there is no words limit or citation or anything. Just feel free to share what is going on in your minds and I believe this will be a really encouraging to what you guys have to say about this book. I think by sharing, our class can also grow in light of his words as a whole through great books like this.
---J.W.
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