One day, I will be able to articulate exactly what I think and feel (especially spiritually).  For now, I will just rely on people who really KNOW how to articulate themselves spiritually.  (And on people who know how to link to sound bites;)

I have a favorite radio show that I actually listen to on a podcast because I can't pick up the show in Michigan.  Its the White Horse Inn.  I just think these guys get it.  They understand the Gospel and know how to present it.  I do occassionally have to listen to an episode a couple times to grasp everything they communicate in 33 minutes.  But its worth it. 

Tonight, I was going to some of my favorite blogs (which I have not done is quite a while!) and found theMangoTimes post about a White Horse Inn episode that I listened to today while working out.  This episode is so worth your time and energy to listen and comprehend.  theMangoTimes has a clip for you to listen to, but please listen to the whole thing. 

The depth of the Gospel is SO much more than we give it credit for.  Our God wants MORE than for us just to *love* Jesus, or for us to communicate *Jesus Loves You* to someone who doesn't know (yet, all of those are true).  Its deeper than that, its more complex, and yet easy for even (tongue in cheek) a sinner to understand.  I am tired of the dumbed down gospel.  People DESERVE more!

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I am doing a lenten book study with a small group of people from my church, and the book that was chosen is called The Signature of Jesus by Brennan Manning.  The only description I have is UGH! 

He is clear that the Signature of Jesus is the cross on our lives, but God Bless him, I have wanted to throw this book more times than I can count.  I just FEEL that he is dishing out a different sort of works in a Roman Catholic sort of way (he was a Franciscan Priest).  Its just WAY WAY simpler than how he presents it.  The signature of Jesus is all about what this week represents, and that is IT!  We either *get* God's propitiation or we DO NOT.  If we do not it is ALWAYS Christ's blood +++++ something else.  And I do think that as believers, we are all at different stages of this.  I think THAT is our life struggle, to NOT help Christ redeem us.  Or to not work at being worthy for it.  I do understand that there is a journey, everyone has one.  But I feel that this book just tried (because I did not fall for it~kuddos for me;)) to give me something ELSE to be guilty for.  I already have that problem in *other* areas of my life, I certainly don't need more.  This book was muddy water.  Never really clear *what* he was trying to say.  I had this feeling that I wanted to slap him on the back to help him to just get it out...pure frustration.

It did have redeeming values!  I got to host and have people over every week, got to know people in a more intimate way, and it did spurn some good conversation!  I just felt like I had the same thing to say over and over...the Gospel is the answer, the Gospel is the answer, the Gospel is the answer.  And I admit that I didn't even really understand THAT until a few years ago.  But the WAY to understand God's signature, and to have a MORE intimate passionate love for Christ, and to want to serve Him more and want to make sure we love our neighbor as ourselves, and to want to deliver the good news to the unbeliever (whew) is to better understand what he did on the CROSS.  Thats it, its all encapsulated IN that.  If we think we totally get it, we cut ourselves off from learning more! 

This is another off the cuff, venting sort of post.  And I apologize if you totally like this book, but as my hubby says, I think he went around his elbow to get to his thumb!  (and landed on the wrong thumb;) 

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