There was a song I liked a lot back in the hayday of the 70'sung by Harry Nilsson called "Without You." Mariah Carey sings it nicely. Listen to her rendition. It is a song that could be sung about our relationship with Jesus. We "can't live if living is without Him..."
I spent 48 hours a month ago with many of my staff in prayer and fasting. We spent from morning till evening praying, studying and discussing things about God and prayer. We spent time walking through Andrew Murray's book "Prayer Power." We didn't eat a thing and food fell into the quiet and unnecessary place. It was a supercharged time with the Lord.
Have you ever spent a long time with the Lord, without interruption, just you and him? Have you ever made the investment of building your relationship with him? Do you take time regularly to be with him so that you are changed and transformed? Jesus did this with his Father. He modeled clearly what is needed most.
Have you heard of the Sin of Prayerlessness? Yes it is a sin! Think about it. Prayerlessness basically says, "God I will run my life on my own terms. I don't need you. I can do this all by myself." This is right where the enemy wants us. Remember when you, as a little child, said this to your parents? I'm really glad that my parents didn't buy that reasoning from me.
Prayer is not merely coming to God to ask for something or to get him to do something or just to find out what his will is. It’s not just about filling God in on the details. Prayer is more about Him than us. It is fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is coming into his presence to sit and listen, to ponder and meditate, to be transformed by his love and holiness. It is to come and allow Jesus to have full rule over our entire being. It’s coming to receive power and direction to live right. It is to ask God to do what he already said he would do.
Prayer is for developing intimacy with God. Do you want to know Jesus better? You must pray. Praying will result in love, obedience and worship to God. It results in a stronger family and a stronger church. It results in a greater passion for the lost, leading them to know Jesus personally and bringing them into the church family, where they will grow a maturing relationship with Him. By being close to Jesus we see his passion for needy people who are in darkness and need help. We were created for relationship with God. We must be impacted by Jesus daily.
Sometimes we think that skipping a meal is true fasting. It is fasting from something but the greater reason for fasting is to fast from something so that you can get closer to God. So it's stopping this for that. There's the purpose of stopping one thing that is needed so that you can do another thing that's even more needed.
We forget the great cause of God in our lives. He wants to rescue us from ourselves. He wants to redeem us from sin and Satan. He wants to give us New Life, True Life, Abundant Life, overflowing from life to life into all eternity. When we encounter Jesus, everything changes. Our hearts become FULL and running over. We have a whole new outlook on life. We can live a FAITHFUL life, one that matters. We will receive power from on high to speak our story of Good News. We can now live a FRUITFUL life impacting others for good, for eternity. We become a living spring overflowing, from life to life, unto all eternity.
Why do we think we can do this on our own? We can't live without Him.
May you realize by the time you get to the end of this blog that you need Jesus more than ever. May you determine to get near him right now and in every day. May your life become a bright shining light in this dark world. May it be obvious that you have been near Jesus. Please don't wake up someday and say what Jacob said, "God was in this place, and I did not even know." Genesis 28:10-19.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Hello...
You haven't heard from me for awhile. I've been traveling and working the FCA "Fellowship of Christian Athletes" ministry. Part of my travels took me to Kansas City twice, Cincinnati, North East Maryland for our College Retreat, Rising Sun Maryland for our 48 hour prayer and fasting event and Annapolis for Regional meetings.
I'll be back shortly with a blog about prayer and fasting.
See you then.
I'll be back shortly with a blog about prayer and fasting.
See you then.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Forgetfulness...
There are certain things we never forget. Like I remember when my first kiss was and when I got married and when my 3 kids were born. I don't remember things like what clothes I wore a week ago or what I ate 3 days ago.
Our Creator knew we'd remember certain things and forget certain others. He designed us so that some things would be forgotten. Forgotten so that the pain and struggle and deep disappointment would not hold us down and grip us in a powerless lifeless position. He also made us to be able to remember things that bring us joy, love, purpose and meaning.
Have you noticed the few things God told us to not forget. He told his people to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy and honorable. He knew that we would get to the place where we would be so entwined in daily living that we would forget that our existence and that our abilities come from him. He knew we would need to re-align ourselves with him and his purposes every 7 days. It is why he worked 6 days and then rested on the 7th day. Remember this creation ordinance, as Jesus later said, was for us so that we would never forget our dependence upon God. We would need to refocus our lives on him instead of self-focus and focus only on our work.
God also told us to teach our children daily all about him and his ways. He said to teach life as we live life, teach about his activity and authority around and in us - as we walk, talk, eat, sit, lay down, writing his ways and salvation on the doorposts and on the gates. Everywhere in every day...so that our children's children will know the ways of God. So that we don't forget all his activity of redemption and blessing in and around us. People tend to forget some of the most important elements in life.
There's one very important moment when as Christ followers we were told to remember it. This one trumps all the others. The night when Jesus was betrayed, at the dinner meal, he took bread and wine. He gave thanks for the bread and then he broke it and passed it around. He said, "Take and eat. This represents my broken body for you. Do this in remembrance of me." He then took the cup and gave thanks for it and then said, "this represents my shed blood which is the new covenant which is for the forgiveness of sins. Drink this in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this break and drink this cup, you declare the Lord's death until he comes again."
A call often to remembrance. Have you forgotten that Jesus paid for your sins? Have you forgotten what it cost him for your redemption? Have you stopped, or do you stop often, to remember your dear Savior, who loved you beyond measure, who gave up his life for you, so that you might live in newness of life? Jesus does not want us to forget any of this because everything hinges on it. Everything!
Take the time right now and bow before Jesus and remember what he did for you. Thank him for his full payment for your every sin. Thank him that he did all this on a cruel cross so that he could come close to you and love you and that you could coome close to him. He does not want you to live in forgetfulness of him.
May you remember Jesus in this specific way, often, taking the bread and the wine, and remembering his death and resurrection, until we see him again. May each time you reflect, mediate and celebrate, may you be drawn closer to him and have a greater love for him.
Our Creator knew we'd remember certain things and forget certain others. He designed us so that some things would be forgotten. Forgotten so that the pain and struggle and deep disappointment would not hold us down and grip us in a powerless lifeless position. He also made us to be able to remember things that bring us joy, love, purpose and meaning.
Have you noticed the few things God told us to not forget. He told his people to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy and honorable. He knew that we would get to the place where we would be so entwined in daily living that we would forget that our existence and that our abilities come from him. He knew we would need to re-align ourselves with him and his purposes every 7 days. It is why he worked 6 days and then rested on the 7th day. Remember this creation ordinance, as Jesus later said, was for us so that we would never forget our dependence upon God. We would need to refocus our lives on him instead of self-focus and focus only on our work.
God also told us to teach our children daily all about him and his ways. He said to teach life as we live life, teach about his activity and authority around and in us - as we walk, talk, eat, sit, lay down, writing his ways and salvation on the doorposts and on the gates. Everywhere in every day...so that our children's children will know the ways of God. So that we don't forget all his activity of redemption and blessing in and around us. People tend to forget some of the most important elements in life.
There's one very important moment when as Christ followers we were told to remember it. This one trumps all the others. The night when Jesus was betrayed, at the dinner meal, he took bread and wine. He gave thanks for the bread and then he broke it and passed it around. He said, "Take and eat. This represents my broken body for you. Do this in remembrance of me." He then took the cup and gave thanks for it and then said, "this represents my shed blood which is the new covenant which is for the forgiveness of sins. Drink this in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this break and drink this cup, you declare the Lord's death until he comes again."
A call often to remembrance. Have you forgotten that Jesus paid for your sins? Have you forgotten what it cost him for your redemption? Have you stopped, or do you stop often, to remember your dear Savior, who loved you beyond measure, who gave up his life for you, so that you might live in newness of life? Jesus does not want us to forget any of this because everything hinges on it. Everything!
Take the time right now and bow before Jesus and remember what he did for you. Thank him for his full payment for your every sin. Thank him that he did all this on a cruel cross so that he could come close to you and love you and that you could coome close to him. He does not want you to live in forgetfulness of him.
May you remember Jesus in this specific way, often, taking the bread and the wine, and remembering his death and resurrection, until we see him again. May each time you reflect, mediate and celebrate, may you be drawn closer to him and have a greater love for him.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Following Christ in the 21st Century....
A lot is being said about what Jesus wants his followers to be doing these days. Things like fulfilling the command to love your neighbor as yourself: serve them, feed them, stand up for them, visit them, sacrifice for them, and more. Jesus did tell us to be doing these things. By loving others it proves our love for God and proves we belong to God.
I agree wholeheartedly that these are the things we should be doing. But there is something else that should be noted. Since Adam and Eve there was the promise of a Savior, a Redeemer, and this One would come to earth to pay for and buy back his people. When he came the angels of heaven announced his birth by saying his coming was Good News (gospel). Mary, Zachariah, Simeon and others spoke his bringing salvation. Joseph was instructed to call and name him Jesus, for he would save his people from their sins. This name and description was given by God.
When Jesus began his 3 years of ministry, he was introduced by John as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. And he (John) also preached to those around him that they should repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Also that each one must receive and believe on Jesus Christ and they would become children of God.
When Jesus arrived on the scene, he began by saying that forgiveness was in His name. He came and began setting people free from the burden and bondage of sin and gave them a new life. He preached repentance and forgiveness of sins. He told his followers to go into the whole world and preach the gospel. He said to many, if you don't repent, you too will perish. He said to Nichodemus in essence, "you must be born again if you want to enter the kingdom of God."
Here's the crux: both are correct. Both are right. The pendulum swings from preaching to serving, back and forth over time. It is completely right to serve others. In this serving we point people to Jesus. We invite them to join with us in doing good to others. We help them to see God's grace that is extended to them. It is right to preach the gospel. It is by grace that he wants to save them from their sins, set them free from sin's bondage and prison, and give them a new transformed life to live. We show them a transformed life - our story. We reveal faith and trust in Jesus alone. This is the Gospel, the Good News. Without the Gospel there is no power to salvation. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. The transformed life is revealed by how we love God and others.
God is always asking, "Who is available and who will go for us?" May our answer be, "Here am I, send me." Take who you are and what you have, take your passions and gifts, and share the Good News of Jesus and serve others in Jesus' name. This is the Kingdom.
I agree wholeheartedly that these are the things we should be doing. But there is something else that should be noted. Since Adam and Eve there was the promise of a Savior, a Redeemer, and this One would come to earth to pay for and buy back his people. When he came the angels of heaven announced his birth by saying his coming was Good News (gospel). Mary, Zachariah, Simeon and others spoke his bringing salvation. Joseph was instructed to call and name him Jesus, for he would save his people from their sins. This name and description was given by God.
When Jesus began his 3 years of ministry, he was introduced by John as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. And he (John) also preached to those around him that they should repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Also that each one must receive and believe on Jesus Christ and they would become children of God.
When Jesus arrived on the scene, he began by saying that forgiveness was in His name. He came and began setting people free from the burden and bondage of sin and gave them a new life. He preached repentance and forgiveness of sins. He told his followers to go into the whole world and preach the gospel. He said to many, if you don't repent, you too will perish. He said to Nichodemus in essence, "you must be born again if you want to enter the kingdom of God."
Here's the crux: both are correct. Both are right. The pendulum swings from preaching to serving, back and forth over time. It is completely right to serve others. In this serving we point people to Jesus. We invite them to join with us in doing good to others. We help them to see God's grace that is extended to them. It is right to preach the gospel. It is by grace that he wants to save them from their sins, set them free from sin's bondage and prison, and give them a new transformed life to live. We show them a transformed life - our story. We reveal faith and trust in Jesus alone. This is the Gospel, the Good News. Without the Gospel there is no power to salvation. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. The transformed life is revealed by how we love God and others.
God is always asking, "Who is available and who will go for us?" May our answer be, "Here am I, send me." Take who you are and what you have, take your passions and gifts, and share the Good News of Jesus and serve others in Jesus' name. This is the Kingdom.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Prospecting A New Year...
I have seen 51 New Years! Actually I don't remember them all but I do remember several. They were viewed with hope and prospect for another year of living for Christ, my family and others. Some were spent with friends and several at church events of all-nighters and Home Group parties.
It's an interesting phenomenon isn't it? We look at the past year (or even further back) with a critical and even a judgmental eye and see the failures and missed opportunities and we beat ourselves up for them. Then we look at the New Year and think,,"Ah, I have a a window of time to make a new plan and set a new course. I'll live differently." We determine some new patterns of behavior and ring the New Year in with lots of anticipation, and partying too! But if we are normal, it takes us about 3 weeks to give up. Even research tells us that generally we quit a new plan by the 21st day, especially in January. Ugh!
I decided many years ago that New Year's Resolutions were actually not a good thing. I decided that a better way to live life was seeing it from God's perspective and design. From that pivital point I began to live today for what today was meant to be and looking to eternity for what it will be. One eye on today and one eye on eternity. Everything I do today has everything to do with what happens in eternity. The pressure was off. Now I can live like Paul said, "For to me to live, Christ. The life I live I no longer live for myslef. The life I live I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave up himself for me." (Philippians 1:21 and Galatians 2:20).
One of my life foundational statements is: I consider my life as of no value to me so that I may complete the task the Lord Jesus gave me to do. (Acts 20:24). May 2009 be a year of progress and growth in your journey with Jesus. May it be a year where you become a better Christ follower and where others find a relationship with Him because of your life, your love and your good deeds.
HAPPY NEW YEAR...!
It's an interesting phenomenon isn't it? We look at the past year (or even further back) with a critical and even a judgmental eye and see the failures and missed opportunities and we beat ourselves up for them. Then we look at the New Year and think,,"Ah, I have a a window of time to make a new plan and set a new course. I'll live differently." We determine some new patterns of behavior and ring the New Year in with lots of anticipation, and partying too! But if we are normal, it takes us about 3 weeks to give up. Even research tells us that generally we quit a new plan by the 21st day, especially in January. Ugh!
I decided many years ago that New Year's Resolutions were actually not a good thing. I decided that a better way to live life was seeing it from God's perspective and design. From that pivital point I began to live today for what today was meant to be and looking to eternity for what it will be. One eye on today and one eye on eternity. Everything I do today has everything to do with what happens in eternity. The pressure was off. Now I can live like Paul said, "For to me to live, Christ. The life I live I no longer live for myslef. The life I live I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave up himself for me." (Philippians 1:21 and Galatians 2:20).
One of my life foundational statements is: I consider my life as of no value to me so that I may complete the task the Lord Jesus gave me to do. (Acts 20:24). May 2009 be a year of progress and growth in your journey with Jesus. May it be a year where you become a better Christ follower and where others find a relationship with Him because of your life, your love and your good deeds.
HAPPY NEW YEAR...!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Advent
Latin "adventus" is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting that Christians today endure as they await the second coming of Christ (Wikipedia).
Week one is about Hope. Jesus Christ is the Hope of the world. God has promised a Savior who would take away our sins. The Incarnate Christ, the God-man, is the Savior of the world. "Put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption." (Psalm 130:7). "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength..." (Isaiah 40:31). "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him." (Romans 15:12).
Week two is about Peace. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. Often we associate peace as the absence of conflict. But the Peace Jesus is and offers is the wellness and wholeness of our entire being, altogether. It is wholeness spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. He is our Peace. He has reconciled us to God by his death on the cross by paying the full price for our sins.
The third week is about Joy. Jesus Christ is our Joy. When his coming was announced by the angel, the angel said, "I bring you tidings of great joy." His coming was anticiapted for so long and now he was here. This was great news of joy. We sing "Joy to the world the Lord has come!"
The fourth week is about Love. Jesus Christ is our God of Love. He demonstrated the full measure of love by coming to earth to redeem us, transform us, give us a new life to live and the promise of eternal life with him forever.
Advent is about the preparing, the anticipating, and the longing for the coming of Jesus. He came as it was foretold and he will come a second time just as he said. Do you have this sense of longing for his second coming? Are you preparing and anticipating his coming?
May this Advent season remind you of Jesus' first AND second comings, which should inspire a great hope, a strong enduring peace, an overflowing response of joy, and a life lived by love. O Come O Come Emmanuel - Rejoice! Rejoice!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13). "The grace of God, which has brought us salvation, has appeared to all men; teaches us to say no to all ungodliness, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:12-13).
Week one is about Hope. Jesus Christ is the Hope of the world. God has promised a Savior who would take away our sins. The Incarnate Christ, the God-man, is the Savior of the world. "Put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption." (Psalm 130:7). "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength..." (Isaiah 40:31). "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him." (Romans 15:12).
Week two is about Peace. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. Often we associate peace as the absence of conflict. But the Peace Jesus is and offers is the wellness and wholeness of our entire being, altogether. It is wholeness spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. He is our Peace. He has reconciled us to God by his death on the cross by paying the full price for our sins.
The third week is about Joy. Jesus Christ is our Joy. When his coming was announced by the angel, the angel said, "I bring you tidings of great joy." His coming was anticiapted for so long and now he was here. This was great news of joy. We sing "Joy to the world the Lord has come!"
The fourth week is about Love. Jesus Christ is our God of Love. He demonstrated the full measure of love by coming to earth to redeem us, transform us, give us a new life to live and the promise of eternal life with him forever.
Advent is about the preparing, the anticipating, and the longing for the coming of Jesus. He came as it was foretold and he will come a second time just as he said. Do you have this sense of longing for his second coming? Are you preparing and anticipating his coming?
May this Advent season remind you of Jesus' first AND second comings, which should inspire a great hope, a strong enduring peace, an overflowing response of joy, and a life lived by love. O Come O Come Emmanuel - Rejoice! Rejoice!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13). "The grace of God, which has brought us salvation, has appeared to all men; teaches us to say no to all ungodliness, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:12-13).
Sunday, November 30, 2008
The Shack
I just finished reading the New York Times best seller "The Shack." The Shack has been read by hundreds of thousands and I'm sure many of them sense something different about God and themselves. There is a heightened desire for spiritual life and knowledge these days. People want to connect spiritually with themselves, a higher power, and maybe even God. Most anything written in this category gets people's attention. I hope many do find Jesus Christ and begin a real relationship with him as they read this book.
The book is well written. It is a good story. A novel. There are a few profound insights about life, God and relationships.
I have been a theologian for almost 33 years. I have studied the Bible for more than 20,000 hours. This includes the few thousand sermons, teachings, and small group meetings. It does not include all the hours spent quietly and privately studying, memorizing and mediating on Scripture. One of my greatest desires is to truly know Jesus Christ. I want to have a deep living understandable relationship with him. I want to be as he said, his friend. I am making good progress and I expect this learning to continue for all my life, both here and in eternity.
People are seeking more than ever for answers and when a book like the Shack comes along they dive in, with strong passion, and look intently for clues, insights, and explanations to guide them. Remember the Left Behind series? But when we say that God has written to us, through the sacred scriptures, people do not run there with the same passion and intentionality. God has spoken and it is there we will find the greatest help, insight, power, peace, wisdom, and so much more. God's writing, the Bible, is the measure, the standard, the revelation of Himself, and from it we critically discern what others have to say about God, life and eternity. Even though the Shack is fiction, it speaks about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and their ways. People will not read it as fiction but as truth. This is dangerous. The book is touted as a book to help spiritual life so caution and discernment are a must as you read it.
To not bore you with too many paragraphs I'll simply say a few things that caught my attention.
First, I did not like the characterization of Jesus. My understanding of Jesus is of a King, Warrior, Victor, Mighty God, Sustainer of the universe, Redeemer and Friend. And there is much more. He is not just a nice guy who works in a shop and is mild mannered. He's not just a good friend. Also, in the book Jesus says he is the best way for us to find God, gain eternal life and know him personally. Jesus isn't the best way, he is the ONLY way.
Second, the idea that there is no responsibility and no expectation placed on us by God. It says we should just "be" and don't worry about "doing." Don't we know, we must all appear before God to give an explanation for what we have done with our lives? Didn't Jesus teach a parable about the servants who were given talents? Weren't they expected to faithfully use these talents to benefit the kingdom and others? Didn't the master return to ask each one for an explanation and gave them an evaluation? Good servant and wicked servant were the two categories!
Third: The explanation of the Trinity. Albeit it is very hard to describe something like this, the offering in the book diminished the Trinity horribly. They did not become human in order to help us connect to them. They did not limit themselves in order for us to know and see them. There is not a mushy existence between them.
Fourth: Evil and darkness don't really exist? Really?
Fifth: Sin is it's own punishment? And God doesn't punish sin but only cures it? There are consequences of our sins. It may come to us and to others. It's true that Jesus was the cure for our sins but that came through God's punishment on Jesus on the Cross. He suffered and carried all the rottenness, decaying, wicked mess of our lives. There will be eternal punishment for those who reject Jesus and His gift of forgiveness for their sins.They will be separated eternally from God.
These are my thoughts. So what should you do? One: read the book, but do so critically with discernment. Two: learn some things about yourself, others and God. Three: become a student of the Scriptures which will make you wise unto salvation. Be diligent and a faithful one handling well the scriptures. Four: come to know Jesus in a much deeper real way.
God's wisdom, peace and blessing to you.
The book is well written. It is a good story. A novel. There are a few profound insights about life, God and relationships.
I have been a theologian for almost 33 years. I have studied the Bible for more than 20,000 hours. This includes the few thousand sermons, teachings, and small group meetings. It does not include all the hours spent quietly and privately studying, memorizing and mediating on Scripture. One of my greatest desires is to truly know Jesus Christ. I want to have a deep living understandable relationship with him. I want to be as he said, his friend. I am making good progress and I expect this learning to continue for all my life, both here and in eternity.
People are seeking more than ever for answers and when a book like the Shack comes along they dive in, with strong passion, and look intently for clues, insights, and explanations to guide them. Remember the Left Behind series? But when we say that God has written to us, through the sacred scriptures, people do not run there with the same passion and intentionality. God has spoken and it is there we will find the greatest help, insight, power, peace, wisdom, and so much more. God's writing, the Bible, is the measure, the standard, the revelation of Himself, and from it we critically discern what others have to say about God, life and eternity. Even though the Shack is fiction, it speaks about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and their ways. People will not read it as fiction but as truth. This is dangerous. The book is touted as a book to help spiritual life so caution and discernment are a must as you read it.
To not bore you with too many paragraphs I'll simply say a few things that caught my attention.
First, I did not like the characterization of Jesus. My understanding of Jesus is of a King, Warrior, Victor, Mighty God, Sustainer of the universe, Redeemer and Friend. And there is much more. He is not just a nice guy who works in a shop and is mild mannered. He's not just a good friend. Also, in the book Jesus says he is the best way for us to find God, gain eternal life and know him personally. Jesus isn't the best way, he is the ONLY way.
Second, the idea that there is no responsibility and no expectation placed on us by God. It says we should just "be" and don't worry about "doing." Don't we know, we must all appear before God to give an explanation for what we have done with our lives? Didn't Jesus teach a parable about the servants who were given talents? Weren't they expected to faithfully use these talents to benefit the kingdom and others? Didn't the master return to ask each one for an explanation and gave them an evaluation? Good servant and wicked servant were the two categories!
Third: The explanation of the Trinity. Albeit it is very hard to describe something like this, the offering in the book diminished the Trinity horribly. They did not become human in order to help us connect to them. They did not limit themselves in order for us to know and see them. There is not a mushy existence between them.
Fourth: Evil and darkness don't really exist? Really?
Fifth: Sin is it's own punishment? And God doesn't punish sin but only cures it? There are consequences of our sins. It may come to us and to others. It's true that Jesus was the cure for our sins but that came through God's punishment on Jesus on the Cross. He suffered and carried all the rottenness, decaying, wicked mess of our lives. There will be eternal punishment for those who reject Jesus and His gift of forgiveness for their sins.They will be separated eternally from God.
These are my thoughts. So what should you do? One: read the book, but do so critically with discernment. Two: learn some things about yourself, others and God. Three: become a student of the Scriptures which will make you wise unto salvation. Be diligent and a faithful one handling well the scriptures. Four: come to know Jesus in a much deeper real way.
God's wisdom, peace and blessing to you.
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