Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

[Time]

N.T. “Tom” Wright is one of the most formidable figures in the world of Christian thought. As Bishop of Durham, he is the fourth most senior cleric in the Church of England and a major player in the strife-riven global Anglican Communion; as a much-read theologian and Biblical scholar he has taught at Cambridge and is a hero to conservative Christians worldwide for his 2003 book The Resurrection of the Son of God, which argued forcefully for a literal interpretation of that event.

It therefore comes as a something of a shock that Wright doesn’t believe in heaven - at least, not in the way that millions of Christians understand the term. In his new book, Surprised by Hope (HarperOne), Wright quotes a children’s book by California first lady Maria Shriver called What’s Heaven, which describes it as “a beautiful place where you can sit on soft clouds and talk… If you’re good throughout your life, then you get to go [there]… When your life is finished here on earth, God sends angels down to take you heaven to be with him.” That, says Wright is a good example of “what not to say.” The Biblical truth, he continues, “is very, very different.”

Read about it here.

[From me]

Well I agree with him about his assessment of Ms. Shriver’s view. God didn’t make us to sit on a cloud. What do you think about his other ideas? They sure make you think.

What do you think?

[KOLO & Las Vegas Now]

At the announcement ceremony on Friday, Kevin Hart, with Fernley coach Mark Hodges at his side, said he talked Cal head coach Jeff Tedford many times, and that “personal experience” led to his decision to choose the Golden Bears over Oregon, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported. But the announcement was questioned almost immediately, and on Monday officials with California and University of Oregon said Hart was never recruited by their programs.

Five days after formally announcing his decision to play football for the University of California, Fernley Senior Kevin Hart released a statement saying he made the whole thing up. On Wednesday, Hart issued the following statement through the Lyon County School District.

“I wanted to play D-1 ball more than anything. When I realized that wasn’t going to happen, I made up what i wanted to be reality.

Read about it here and here.

[From me]

When I first heard this story last week I thought it was funny until I read this boy’s quote above. He tried to fool himself into thinking he was going to get a scholarship. I wanted to play football at Alabama but Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant didn’t need a slow, white cornerback.

This story got me to thinking about heaven. I wonder how many people will fool themselves into thinking they will make it to heaven by their works. According to the Bible there are going to some frauds trying to enter heaven. The only way to go to heaven is to do His will.

Matthew 7: 21-23

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

What do you think?

What could be better than National Signing Day?

What do you think?