Love Wins.

in the 1st century middle east, there was this roman law that said that if you were a jew and a roman soldier came up to you and told you to carry his gear, you were obligated to carry it for him for 1 mile. if you refused, he would arrest you and have you put to death by crusifiction. so, as a jew, you were to stop whatever you were doing, pick up this roman soldiers gear - these romans, remember, are the one's oppressing you and the one's who dont believe in your god and who would rather have you dead and who dont vote republican like you - and carry it for 1 mile.


one jewish rabbi came along, and said, "If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."


i think this is what the ever-glorious and celebrated mars hill sticker means by, 'Love Wins'.

Leaving Home...for Home.

Its time. time to leave grand rapids. this place has been a good home for the last 8 weeks, and i feel even as if im leaving home for home. but i guess its good that im leaving with one clinical experience - passed. thank you to all (well, since i think you dave and matt/steph and mom are the only ones who read this blog); thank you guys for praying me through. no matter what happens from here on out, no one can take away this experience & the memories.

game 1 tonight: cards in an upset, 7-2. sorry d-town. or "the d" i guess. whatever.

(reading a generous orthodoxy...have you read this one by brian mclarin matt? what do you think?)

Representing the whole world...

This photographer from NY is attempting to photograph one child from every country on the earth...and every child must be a current resident of NY.

Sounds crazy, right?

He's got 128 countries so far...

...including a little place called Gambia.


NYchildren.org

The guy who "sold his soul on ebay".

I dont know how widespread this news story is, but i've heard its all over. the guy who sold his soul on ebay: this guy who is an atheist invited any christian to "buy" him; he would attend any church the buyer wanted him to ($10/hour of church). He was bought by this guy who did not want to save him, but wanted a critical review of american church's (way cool, church-guy).

anyway, a publicist got wind of the whole story and told the atheist guy that he would publish a book of an account of these visits. the book will be called "i sold my soul on ebay", due out april '07.

well, one of those church's happened to be mars hill. rob bell was able to sit down 1-on-1 with this guy before a gathering and just talk. he said that this atheist guy had heard it all; you're going to hell, turn or burn, jesus is the only way...ect. rob didnt try to convert the guy. rob simply shared some stories about people he pointed out as they walked in for the gathering. (i sure would of loved to be in that little room).

rob told us last week that the publisher emailed rob. he told rob that they weren't able to categorize mars hill church within any of the other church categories (catholic, protestant, evangelical, baptist, ect). how cool is that? and one more thing: the atheist guy wants rob to write the forward to his new book.

more on the story:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060319/LIFESTYLE04/603190327&SearchID=73239141341969