Monday Morning

It is Monday morning. I’m sitting at my desk, recovering from Thanksgiving week, which ended last night at 9pm when my family and I returned from Germany. Living in Florida, I secretly love cold vacations. Twisted, I know.

In Germany I finished Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. One thing he wrote keeps coming back to my mind: “Success cannot heal a wounded soul.”

Wow. Is that why we seek recognition, fame, or fortune? Is that what fuels our need to feel love from people we hardly know? Is that what drives our pretentions? . . . Because, we have wounded souls?

Rob Bell might be on to something. But, the statement begs another question. What does heal a wounded soul?

All political ideologies, religions and most philosophies presuppose that truth heals whatever it is that mars the human condition.

Next question… What is truth?

Jesus said on more than one occasion that He is Truth . . . not a cold, hard, or condemning Truth, but a loving, even redemptive, Truth.

My therapeutic supervisor, Dr. Lex Baer, reminded me this morning that Jesus loves us not as we should be, but as we are.

Jesus loves you as you are, right now. Jesus wants you to grow, but He already loves you.

Nice.

Sex God

Has anyone here read the book “Sex God” by Rob Bell? I haven’t, and I’m not sure that I will . But, when I found a copy on my wife’s nightstand, you might not be surprised to know I went to Amazon.com to see what the book is about ... What is she up to anyway? Maybe I should start working out again ... hmmm.

It turns out the book talks about the God of Abraham and human sexuality. It also turns out the book is highly controversial. I've always got a lot out of Rob Bell's Nooma videos. But, this book seems to be a little tooooo “relevant” for some followers of Christ. One reviewer wrote – Maybe Rob Bell should take a Bible class. – Ouch! Stinging criticism considering Rob Bell’s day job is being a pastor up in Michigan.

How are followers of Jesus, I mean the Bible believing variety, supposed to talk about sexuality and the world's empty promises surrounding sex? How do we contend with our hypersexual media and sex-addicted society we are a part of?

What we are doing now is not working.

How do we have a real conversation?

Do we talk about our own mistakes, our own mess-ups? There is a side of me that says ... not me, not here anyway ... my wife reads this blog ... you go first.

I read a study the other day that stated there are more men in America addicted to pornography than men addicted to alcohol. What?!

I’d like your feedback. Tell me what YOU think . . . In 200 words or less if possible . . . There are a lot of you out there . . . :-)

"Father, be with us, guide us, remind us of Your love for all of us. We are a fallen humanity and You provide the only lasting answer through Your son Jesus. In Jesus name we cry out to You."