The Pomo Christian - Latest Comments

Re: On Motherhood as a Mission Field

Erin Adams — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:45:34 -0000

Okay Henry. I read the article. And I read Rachel's other stuff from time to time. And, I've met her personally. I am not of the "wilsonites", but I have friends who are. :) I do think that it is reading into the piece, to believe that fathers are excluded or excused from the mission field of home. I believe her husband is involved beyond "bringing home the bacon" & "being the leader".

My husband & I are a very much a team. He is the one who works full time out of the home. But, he is very engaged in parenting (including the non glamorous bits, e.g. diaper changing, dish washing, nightmare waking/calming). And he has told me that he takes offense to the majority of parenting books & articles being actually written to the mother, instead of the parents. I now understand his point & am aware how very often they are addressing parenthood, not just motherhood (& yet motherhood is the only part of the team addressed).
But, the majority of the authors are woman. And the majority of the readers are woman. Although my husband is a very active parent, and many of the "mother" things I read apply to him, he is not going to go buy that book & read it as readily as I am. Perhaps some of it is pragmatic in making the book sales? Writing to the greater number of interested readers?
That being said, I believe that it would be a great thing if more authors were to break down a lot of the gender categories.

Re: My Homepage iPad Apps

Linkmylinks — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 07:21:30 -0000

Wow, this is so cool!
http://www.ipadhomepage.com

This is the best way to surf the web with an iPad, full of useful links.
it's Personal, Smart, Learns and suggests your favorites sites.
you can even add you own links.

Re: On Motherhood as a Mission Field

Henry Imler — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 09:44:31 -0000

Edgar, I agree. The problem I have with these folks (A29, neo-reformed), is that they standardize these choices and then imbue deviant choices with sin.

Re: On Motherhood as a Mission Field

Edgar — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:09:19 -0000

I agree ... though I didn't read the piper link//.// I agree with you there: "The mothers that I know that work outside of the home do not do so for
rebellious reasons "... moms that work outside the home might do so for many reasons and I doubt that all of them do it for rebellion.

Re: The NonHistoical Myth of a Personal Relationship with God.

Stephen Kraner — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:37:23 -0000

What is "relationship theology"? It seems nebulious to me. Who defines the relationship? It is with G-d, with people, or, both?
It seems to me that true "relationship theology" is defined by Scripture by the terms of ancient covenants.
What are the modern origins of "relationship theology"? What seminaries promote "relationship theology"?
Who are the primary proponents of "relationship theology"? Who were their mentors? Is there a hidden agenda behind the "relationship theology movement"?

I am not judging. I do not know if "relationship theology" is good or bad. I do not know what it is. It's just that I have learned that popular social movements have often little known but powerful movers and shakers behind them.

Please respond to: torah_guy@yahoo.com

Re: Discussion w/ Brueggemann on Prophets Then and Now

Lisa Z — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:59:21 -0000

I love his laughter at the end, showing humility and lightheartedness as he reads the words of the books on which he's one of the foremost experts in the world. What a lovely, lovely interview.

Re: Video: Ayn Rand on Religion, the Cult of Altruism, Sacrifice, Love and True Happiness

Henry Imler — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:38:51 -0000

Zack,

I'd love to hear those Democrats in which you hear echoes of Rand. I hear a lot of echoes of Rand in Republicans and Tea Partiers. It is a great irony that those same people also say they speak for Jesus on matters of politics. The two views cannot be reconciled (that I can see). I just wish they would see the conflict and be honest about it.

I'd love to write such an analysis, but I'm afraid I just don't have the time. I came upon this clip as I was preparing for a summer class I'm teaching on Ethics.

Re: Video: Ayn Rand on Religion, the Cult of Altruism, Sacrifice, Love and True Happiness

Zack — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:23:24 -0000

"Fun Challenge for Christian Republicans, Libertarians, and Tea Partiers: Find the biblical basis for her values! 5,000 points for each one that you find!"

I scored 0. Did you mean that there should be a negative 5,000 points for every non-biblical basis for her values?

I'm not a political scientist, so I don't know where so many of these ideologies come from but I could see how many politicians and pundits from both sides of the American political polemic were directly or indirectly influenced by the objectivism of Ms. Rand. In this film clip she comes off as cold and creepy, almost androgynous.

Will you be following this up with an explanation of why Christians should be more critical of republican, libertarian, and tea party ideologies that are drinking from the pools of "The Fountainhead" and taking cues from "Atlas Shrugged"?

Re: Quiz: Ayn Rand or Dr. Doom?

Henry Imler — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:32:23 -0000

Fixed. Thanks Zack! While I dig DC comics, I do favor Marvel.

Re: Quiz: Ayn Rand or Dr. Doom?

Zack — Thu, 26 May 2011 09:07:51 -0000

Dude, Dr. Doom is from Marvel Comics not DC Comics. I wouldn't make a big deal out of it but you seem like a "Make mine Marvel!" sort of comic book fan. This juxtaposition of Dr. Doom (a genius dictator of the fictional eastern European country of Latveria and Reed Richards' former colleague turned arch-nemesis) and Ayn Rand is interesting though. it's always a thought provoking read on your blog.

Re: Anticipated Book List

JR. Forasteros — Wed, 18 May 2011 20:06:47 -0000

Oooooh to be sure, most of the preaching books I've found on my own. Don't get me started. ;)

Re: Anticipated Book List

Henry Imler — Mon, 16 May 2011 17:44:07 -0000

@jrforasteros , and here I was just impressed that you were eating up all this amazing preaching books on your own! As a person who speaks on occasion to captive audiences (or heroes on journeys of transformation), I might check some of those out. As you and @graceisunfair allude to, my challenge is not reading too many things at once.

Re: Anticipated Book List

JR. Forasteros — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:46:03 -0000

I'm reading a few preaching books right now for a preaching class I'm finishing up. Dan Boone's "Preaching the Story that Shapes Us" is surprisingly excellent.

I hope to get to Volf's "Captive to the Word of God", Stewart's "Ten Myths About Calvinism" and Wright's "Surprised by Hope".

I also have Wright's "Last Word" and McKnight's "Blue Parakeet" I'm trying to get through soon.

Whew... now I'm exhausted.

Re: Anticipated Book List

JR. Forasteros — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:43:57 -0000

just reviewed a book called "Visioneering" by Andy Stanley that she said is excellent. I've also got a book in my stack to read called "All Hands on Deck" by Tye, about getting buy-in for your vision. Tim Sander's new book "Today We Are Rich" is a great book to take a person or small group through - all about living in abundance and being a generous person.

You should also check out Chip and Dan Heath's book "Switch" (in your new collection). And if that's not enough, here's an old post from my blog with some good reads in it! http://jrforasteros.com/201...

Re: The Heretic’s Hermeneutics of Suspicion

Henry Imler — Mon, 16 May 2011 10:39:58 -0000

Scott, as I read the reviews of Love Wins (and reactions to each interview), I saw a tremendous confirmation bias in their readings of Bell (when they did read the book). It reminded me of the way I used to (primarily) read works. I was reading to find my points of attack against X since I already knew that X was really, really, wrong. I still lapse into it, but I'm at least hyper-aware of the problem.

I'm most likely guilty of it when I read people like "Pastor" Mark Driscoll. I try to read him generously, but still come off appalled, disgusted, or feeling judged by all the people I know that lap him up. For instance, I read his book on parenting (Pastor Dad) and.... well.... I sent you some of the worst excerpts. I (mentally, but not emotionally) recognize that we probably agree on 80% of our theology and 90% of Christian practice, but that 20 and 10 percent are pretty off-putting.

Re: The Heretic’s Hermeneutics of Suspicion

graceisunfair — Mon, 16 May 2011 08:35:30 -0000

I think this is very important; unfortunately, it will be something that most of us will never assume that WE do. It will always be something that someone ELSE does.

In respect to "Love Wins," which is likely the book you had in mind when you were thinking about this, I think that many critics who called Bell a heretic before the book had come out (and thus, before they'd read it), purely read the book so that they could no longer be criticized for condemning it without knowing it.

Re: Anticipated Book List

Henry Imler — Sun, 15 May 2011 15:12:48 -0000

People to talk to about that are @jrforasteros and @meredith_imler . I can send you some things that are tangential to teaching/influencing/leadership, but beyond that I'd talk to those two.

Re: Anticipated Book List

graceisunfair — Sun, 15 May 2011 00:52:53 -0000

There are several books I'm really looking forward to reading, but I'm trying to temper that with books I think I SHOULD read. I'm 2/3 done with Justification by N.T. Wright, and 1/3 done with Love Wins by Rob Bell. I'm really enjoying both, but I'm taking notes on Justification, so that's taking time. I'm very excited to read "Allah" by Volf since it's been an issue I've been struggling with (although I've mostly resolved my position, I think) as I talk with many of my Muslim friends here in Kazakhstan. I also really want to read "The Kingdom of God is Within You" by Tolstoy, but we'll see if it's as difficult to get through as his other stuff. It's got a lot to do with his pacifism. I just got a ton of books from JR, so I still need to wade through what else I want to try to read this summer.

As for what I should read, do you have any suggestions for books on leadership, specifically on training leaders or on helping them "catch your vision"?

Re: When Christianity is not violent enough

Henry Imler — Thu, 12 May 2011 14:29:46 -0000

@JR. Forasteros , it seems as though violence is one of those words that is owned by the speaker and has no meaning in-and-of itself. And that is the beauty of it. Because the word has no real or ultimate meaning, we can fill it as we choose for our own ends.

Violence for Rollins above is struggle against that which is unjustly by means of serving love whereas Driscoll's use of violence is the struggle against that which is unjust by means of domination.

Precisely because there is no real meaning to the word violence (just a varying rules used in a series of games that have a family resemblance), Peter is able to draw a subverting contrast between the Violence of the Cross and the Violence of Driscoll.

Thoughts?

Re: Why do so many people hate Rob Bell?

Henry Imler — Wed, 11 May 2011 17:10:46 -0000

How do you then deal with Jesus dealing in so many questions, especially those who would brand him a heretic?

Re: Why do so many people hate Rob Bell?

Henry Imler — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 10:50:26 -0000

Yeah, I've been at Apprising.org before and I've noticed they employ the heretical hermeneutic of suspicion, and haven't done a very good job listening to what he is actually saying, just looking (not reading, but looking) for buzz words like buzzards. I'll be more open to your conclusions after you have an honest conversation with me after listening to 2 months worth of his church's podcast and having read his books first with an emphasis on understanding what he is trying to say.

Re: Rob Bell’s Confession

Henry Imler — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:47:05 -0000

How many of his books have you read yourself?

Re: Rob Bell’s Confession

Traumadood — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:47:09 -0000

interesting a pastor has the need to point out to his congregation that he is a christian. sad really

he believes in Jesus, he believes in heaven, he believes in hell.........so does Satan.....the belief in these doesn't make Rob Bell's theology less wrong!

This guy is a heretic, plain and simple, and im afraid his emergent church teachings will have devastating consequences on many souls who follow the theology of this false prophet.

According to Rob Bell....anyone who disagrees with him is a "buffoon".

The path is wide, but the gate is NARROW people........im happy to be a buffoon thats saved!

Re: Why do so many people hate Rob Bell?

Traumadood — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:29:04 -0000

www.apprising.org

great resource for clear explanations of the heresy of Rob Bell. I dont hate Rob, but like many others am very disappointed with his teachings. He asks over 300 questions in Love Wins, and answers very few. He clouds his faith in questions rather than teachings. What if? is not teaching.

Serpent in the garden - Did God really tell you not to eat of the tree? Did God really mean it that way? Did God.....?

Bell - Did God really__________?

Re: Why the Comic Book has replaced the Sermon

Henry Imler — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:44:39 -0000

"audience as the hero on a journey of transformation" - Interesting approach. I think I like it. I'll have to look up that book.