Rennyo

BAD LANGUAGE! BAD LANGUAGE But watching this I thought of the parable of the Pharasee and tax-collector.

Thank you Yvonne, Dutch and soma for your replies. It seems like I often do that I've focused on "shoulds" and inevitably ended up condemning myself. Resting in forgiveness and acceptence seems like the right way to go, but I often forget that and put the cart before the horse. I find that easily in Paul, with his teaching on law and grace, but I admit to having a more difficult time seeing it in Jesus, maybe because he doesn't spell it out and break it down like Paul does.

You're here, your ideal is over there, and you can't make any progress towards it. What if you find that you cannot follow Jesus' injunctions to love your enemies, to do unto others, to walk the extra mile and turn the other cheeek? A person who lives such as that is likely, I'll concede, a free person, free from fear, free to live. But what if you find that you can't even leave the house without an evil thought towards your neighbors (not even enemies)? What if you can't see beyond fear and live the way Jesus taught? It seems the only thing left is to hate oneself for not being the person Jesus calls you to be.

I liked that, thanks!

There are good ones (to me!). Jesus Before Christianity by Albert Nolan. The Gospel According to Jesus by Stephen Mitchell. Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time- Marcus Borg When We Talk About God Let's Be Honest- R. Kirby Godsey.....this one is one of the greatest books I've ever read. I had to buy a second copy because the first had too many highlights in it. The book radiates grace. How to Believe in God- Clark Strand A Faith Worth Believing In- Tom Stella Common Sense Christianity- C. Randolph Ross Wisdom Jesus- Cynthia Bourgeault

One really catches hell for not believing in hell. Another person worth mentioning is R. Kirby Godsey. He was put through the ringer because of his 1996 book When We Talk About God, Let's Be Honest. (Magnificent book, btw). The Georgia Baptist Convention tried to have him removed from the chancellorship of Mercer, but he cut the school loose from them. All because he believed the "good" in "good news".

"God loves you at least as much as the person who loves you the most." The Linns, Good Goats

Where the hell are you god?