Comments on: The Art of Suffering http://www.rethinkmonthly.com/2010/01/the-art-of-suffering/ rethinking God in today's culture Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:32:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=700 By: duane http://www.rethinkmonthly.com/2010/01/the-art-of-suffering/comment-page-1/#comment-762 duane Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:14:00 +0000 http://www.rethinkmonthly.com/?p=1690#comment-762 Be careful with this dude. I used to follow him closely, until I felt his theology was going off the rails. http://str.typepad.com/weblog/2009/04/what-to-make-of-rob-bells-theology.html Be careful with this dude. I used to follow him closely, until I felt his theology was going off the rails.

http://str.typepad.com/weblog/2009/04/what-to-make-of-rob-bells-theology.html

]]> By: Sheer Undiluted Slog « Shawn Hofing http://www.rethinkmonthly.com/2010/01/the-art-of-suffering/comment-page-1/#comment-742 Sheer Undiluted Slog « Shawn Hofing Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:39:38 +0000 http://www.rethinkmonthly.com/?p=1690#comment-742 [...] As I mentioned earlier, there were so many more stories and insights Rob shared in regards to suffering and creativity, that I couldn’t even begin to express them all in one post. So again, if you have a chance to experience the tour and/or read the book, I encourage you to do so. If time permits, I do hope to post a couple more specific thoughts, and quotes that have had a lingering affect on me.  For now, if you’re interested in reading more about the tour, Rob shares some thoughts about it in an interview he did with ReThink Monthly which you can read here. [...] [...] As I mentioned earlier, there were so many more stories and insights Rob shared in regards to suffering and creativity, that I couldn’t even begin to express them all in one post. So again, if you have a chance to experience the tour and/or read the book, I encourage you to do so. If time permits, I do hope to post a couple more specific thoughts, and quotes that have had a lingering affect on me.  For now, if you’re interested in reading more about the tour, Rob shares some thoughts about it in an interview he did with ReThink Monthly which you can read here. [...]

]]> By: mike http://www.rethinkmonthly.com/2010/01/the-art-of-suffering/comment-page-1/#comment-640 mike Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:28:42 +0000 http://www.rethinkmonthly.com/?p=1690#comment-640 I think Rob should have been a phycologist instead of a pastor. He seems to like to shrink peoples heads rather than preach the Gospel I think Rob should have been a phycologist instead of a pastor. He seems to like to shrink peoples heads rather than preach the Gospel

]]> By: Gary Walter http://www.rethinkmonthly.com/2010/01/the-art-of-suffering/comment-page-1/#comment-633 Gary Walter Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:11:57 +0000 http://www.rethinkmonthly.com/?p=1690#comment-633 As a pastor, I was first made aware of the consumerist mentality about seven years ago, when one of my overseers wrote an article on it. I have struggled to find the balance between meeting people's <em>felt</em> needs - and their <em>real</em> needs. It's a tough balance. Recently I was terminated from my position because I wasn't "<em>doing a good job.</em>" I never ascribed to doing a <em>good</em> job, I only wanted people to think, deeply about their own spiritual transformation and transcendence. But that's not what people want. They want charisma, they want friendliness, they want a dynamic leader they can be proud of. These words really resonated with me. I really like the way Rob puts it in this paragraph: <blockquote>"So, the questions aren’t: “What’s going on inside of you? What is the Spirit doing to you? In what ways are you stretching, evolving, growing, or being transformed?” Instead it’s “Did they do a good job?” which is essentially a subject, object, relationship, in which we stand at a distance and observe and then evaluate and decide whether or not go to that church. A guy the other day said to me, “I’m church shopping.” Can you imagine saying that to the mystics or the apostles? People use phrases that are absolutely insane with a straight face."</blockquote> He has articulated for me, what the right questions are. Thank you Rob! As a pastor, I was first made aware of the consumerist mentality about seven years ago, when one of my overseers wrote an article on it. I have struggled to find the balance between meeting people’s felt needs – and their real needs. It’s a tough balance.

Recently I was terminated from my position because I wasn’t “doing a good job.” I never ascribed to doing a good job, I only wanted people to think, deeply about their own spiritual transformation and transcendence. But that’s not what people want. They want charisma, they want friendliness, they want a dynamic leader they can be proud of.

These words really resonated with me. I really like the way Rob puts it in this paragraph:

“So, the questions aren’t: “What’s going on inside of you? What is the Spirit doing to you? In what ways are you stretching, evolving, growing, or being transformed?” Instead it’s “Did they do a good job?” which is essentially a subject, object, relationship, in which we stand at a distance and observe and then evaluate and decide whether or not go to that church. A guy the other day said to me, “I’m church shopping.” Can you imagine saying that to the mystics or the apostles? People use phrases that are absolutely insane with a straight face.”

He has articulated for me, what the right questions are. Thank you Rob!

]]> By: Chaplain Floyd McVey http://www.rethinkmonthly.com/2010/01/the-art-of-suffering/comment-page-1/#comment-632 Chaplain Floyd McVey Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:05:26 +0000 http://www.rethinkmonthly.com/?p=1690#comment-632 Great article. Is ministry about success or becoming a presence in someone else’s journey? Great article. Is ministry about success or becoming a presence in someone else’s journey?

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