Nefarious: A Word from a Prostitute

“He came to me in a dream. He was sitting on a bench in a garden. He never once condemned me. He said I’ve been waiting for you. So beautiful. So gentle. So, so gentle. And that went on for about six months. I was always waiting for him to say a harsh word or condemn me but he didn’t.”

- Former Prostitue, The Nefarious Film

Nefarious: Merchant of Souls Official Trailer from Exodus Cry on Vimeo.

Tags: culture

The Allowance of Frustration

Sometimes when I’m frustrated and tired I have to remind myself it’s okay to be frustrated and tired.

And I don’t think anyone moves out of their frustration or weariness and into happiness by other’s approval or buying something new. I’ve done these things–they tickle and leave me the same as they came. I think we become whole and happy by giving ourselves the allowance to be frustrated and tired at times. We can quit beating ourselves up over our situation, stop the self deprecation or consumption, and remember we are loved.

Parenthood: Conflict and Love

My wife and I care about a few shows. Fancy me for a few moments:

#1: Lost – Yes, I know it is over, but I have to list it as number one, and might I take this moment to confess that I miss that show, especially the early seasons—hello, season two, the hatch. I miss it like a good friend who moved away.

#2: Modern Family – silly and fun.
#3: NBC News – lame, I know, but I’m getting old.
#4: Parks and Rec – more silly and more fun.

And,
#5: Parenthood.

We are into the third season of Parenthood, perhaps the best written show on television, intelligent and playful dialogue, sympathetic characters, and realistic conflict. The show proclaims a few ideals without preaching anything, which brings me to my second list, these ideals on the show:
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Tags: love, Television

Lured Away from Grace

“If I can’t keep them from being free men I’ll convince them they are still not enough. I’ll use this to lure them into striving rather than resting, laboring rather than knowing. I’ll have them work hard for God, and his church, so they will never know the fullness of the grace he extends.”

-The Opposition

Rob Bell: Judgment in Ignorance

Controversial author and pastor Rob Bell resigned from his pastorate a few weeks ago. Immediately the web world filled with conservative Christian leaders commenting about the shame of walking away from pastoring just because you made a boat load of money selling books.

It’s a comment on our inner condition, even as Christians, that we constantly feel the need to make judgment on someone elses life decisions. Perhaps its hidden jealousy over Bell’s success. Perhaps the critics disliked his last book enough to harbor ill. Let me be clear the comments I’m speaking of are not the valid theological differences and arguments being published. I’m talking about judgments on Bell’s decision for the future of his family. It’s just not a very Christian reaction. Perhaps I’m now being judgemental toward those who judged. Let’s continue the cycle and you judge me for this, and I’ll do the same to you in return. Then we can gather in the fellowship hall to bandage the wounds.

Putting aside theological differences we may have with Bell we must admit there are a million scenarios for Bell’s family and future that we know nothing of. There are a million scenarios we should consider before casting judgment toward someone. I’m saying it’s possible, just maybe, and I know this may be revolutionary, but maybe we don’t know everything in every situation about every person.

Freedom from Being First

“The last shall be first.
The least the greatest.”

This isn’t about becoming the first or the greatest.
When we demand those things from ourselves they bind us. Fear enters.
This is about the freedom of not needing those things to define us.

It’s Going to be Okay

Everybody won’t like you.
Maybe few people have loved you.
And to all of these people we wish them well and know it’s their loss.

You will not always look like what you think you should look like.
You will not always achieve what you think you should achieve.
There will be gap between who we think we should be and who we are.
And to this and to the self we proclaim, “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”