Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

I arrived safely about 1:00 today in a rainstorm.  I hate flying in the rain.  My mind is mush right now.  I will post about the church that I’m meeting with later.  I was given permission. They have it going.  I’m grateful for this opportunity.

 

Not really, but it sounds punchy. I’m headed to a undisclosed Southern city to spend time with a really cool pastor of a mega-church. I’m not saying who because I’m not sure if he wants me to say. I would hate for people to bombard him with requests for his time.  Plus I may ruin his reputation. As those of you who read here often know I have asked many people for advice and help and have been disappointed more than not. I guess perseverance pays off.

Under my new friends leadership his church has transitioned and is truly impacting a region. I look forward to learning some leadership lessons. I have lots of questions as I always do.  I won’t be live blogging but I will share what I can.  This church is a multi-site congregation that is truly transforming their city. I contacted him last year when I read about what God was doing in his church in a Christian magazine. He asked me if I was the same Kevin Bussey with a blog.  (I guess there has been some redeeming value to my writings.)  He is not a blogger but he does read them.  His church is in my denomination but he has managed to stay out of the rhetoric. He has been very helpful to me over the last year answering some of my questions and encouraging me. I am truly blessed.

I look forward to spending a few days with him and will share what I can.

[From NWI.com]

A man claiming to be God wanted his slippers — right now. Instead, he was arrested at a  Payless Shoes store. The man moved closer to the employees and told them he was God.

“He said ‘When God speaks to you you’re supposed to give him everything,’”

Read about it here.

[From me]

I didn’t know God wore slippers.  I thought He was sandals being.

[From Colorado Gazette]

Colorado Right to Life, which ran a full-page ad in The Gazette last month criticizing Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, was ousted Wednesday from the National Right to Life Committee.

Colorado Right to Life President Brian Rohrbough and the leaders of three other groups accused Dobson of mischaracterizing a recent Supreme Court ruling as a victory for abortion opponents.

Read about it here.

[From me]

What happened to  freedom?  Do believers have to agree on everything?  What’s with all of the bullying by various groups to hold the party line.  My dad and I disagree on Calvinism.  He is a 5 pointer and I’m less than…  But does that make me less his son?

Why can’t believers have differing views on the “Grey” areas?  Not everything is spelled out in the Bible.  Some interpret portions differently.  If we can agree that having a personal relationship with Jesus is essential, why can’t we agree to disagree in other areas and still worship together?

What do you think?

Bryan Riley tagged me in a meme.

1. Those Tagged will share 5 things they dig about Jesus.
2. Those tagged will tag 5 other bloggers.
3. Those tagged will provide a link in the comments section here of their meme so that others can read them.

What I dig about Jesus.  (I feel like I’m back in the 1970’s)

1.  Jesus loved us enough to come to earth as a man.

2.  Jesus forgives us for our sins.

3.  Jesus has patience for recovering legalists like me.

4.  Jesus  didn’t leave us with out power when He went to heaven–He gave us the Holy Spirit.

5.  Jesus uses imperfect people like me.

I tag:

joe kennedy

kelly reed

stuart delony

david phillips

adam feldman