Interfaith Spirit Quest

Is there Hope Beyond Hell?

Rob Bell, who wrote 'Love Wins', the very controversial book about heaven and hell and the fate of every person who ever lived - has also made it to the Time Magazine's top 100 most influential people for 2011. http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,2066367,00.html

Did you think Rob Bell was the first one to come up with the idea that hell is more of a state of circumstance, rather than a literal place of eternal torment? Think again - far from it! There are not just a few who have come to these same conclusions. In ten plus years of personal study, I too came to these same conclusions. Then I began to discover others more 'educated' and 'prominent' than my humble self, who shared my views on the whole subject. Praise be to God.

This book, Hope Beyond Hell, shares information about the concept of hell, and names some of the many religious ministers and scholars, including the Pope of all people, who have denounced the medieval concept of hell as a literal place. Hell is a circumstance of the mind, and it's something that can be worked through, God has provided a way for all people to traverse this dilemma.

A little excerpt from 'Hope Beyond Hell' by Gerry Beauchemin - page 176:

"Any human or demon can destroy lives. So could God, of course. But only God can create, transform, and restore. What do you think would give God greater pleasure and glory, destruction or restoration? Shall we restrict His possibilities by placing limits on His power and purpose? What would you expect from an all-powerful and all-loving God? I would expect the unexpected, the impossible, and that alone which reaches the highest and most noblest of thoughts!"

"To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think." (Ep. 3:20)
"He will swallow up death forever and will wipe away tears from all faces (Is 25:8)

(...all faces)

...continuing on Page 177:

"I have good news for you. Positive signs indicating Christianity is already well on its way out of the dark ages of terror are beginning to emerge."

from page 178:

R. Albert Mohler Jr. in Modern Theology: The Disappearance of Hell, pointed out:

"In 1995, the Church of England Doctrine Commission released The Mystery of Salvation, an official report commended by the House of Bishops. The report embraced a hope of universal salvation, arguing that it is "imcompatible with the essential Christian affirmation that God is Love to say that God brings millions into the world to damn them."

--Eternal damnation is 'imcompatible' with God. Indeed. :)

Page 179: (I didn't know this!)

"Even Pope John Paul II redefined hell in a 1999 General Audience at the Vatican. The traditional doctrine of hell was redifined to remove virtually all threat of eternal torment and any sense of place "

Hope Beyond Hell is a well researched book, packed with all sorts of references and excellent information - check it out!

Taizé-hymn - Bless the Lord my soul

In the spirit of kindness, simplicity and reconciliation, enjoy and participate. 

Taizé-hymn - Bless the Lord my soul (lyrics)

Bless the Lord, my soul,

and bless God's holy name.

Bless the Lord, my soul,

who leads me into life.

What is a Taizé-hymn?  From Wikipedia:  

The Taizé Community is an ecumenical Christian monastic order in Taizé, Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy, France. It is composed of about 100 brothers who come from Protestant and Catholic traditions. The brothers come from about 30 countries across the world.[1] The monastic order has a strong devotion to peace and justice through prayer and meditation. It was founded in 1940 by Brother Roger Schutz.[2]

The community has become one of the world's most important sites of Christian pilgrimage. Over 100,000 young people from around the world make pilgrimages to Taizé each year for prayer, Bible study, sharing, and communal work. Through the community's ecumenical outlook, they are encouraged to live in the spirit of kindness, simplicity and reconciliation.

The music emphasises simple phrases, usually lines from Psalms or other pieces of Scripture, repeated and sometimes also sung in canon.

...more info here.

 

To purchase Taizé music -

Visit Amazon.com's Taize Store to shop for Taize albums (CD, MP3, Vinyl), concert tickets, and other Taize-related items:  Taizé Music

 

 

Read about Taizé Music and the community:

    
 

                         

 

Thee two most important questions for Rob Bell and his answers

Sally Quinn from the Washington Post interviews Rob Bell, author of the new book, Love Wins, asking him the two most important questions people really want answered.  Listen to Rob Bell's answers to these two important thological questions:  

1. What if you're wrong about hell?  
2. If there's no hell, then why did Jesus die for our sins?

 

 

After reading the book, and listening to Bell's answers in this video, I think Rob Bell is declaring to the world what we all intuitively know in our hearts.  On the question of 'What if you're wrong about hell?' Bell basically says that if God would throw billions and billions of people in hell for all eternity, even those who've never heard of Jesus, then we've got bigger problems than the theology in his book, Love Wins.  

On question two, Bell reaffirms his belief in hell, he's not a universalist persay, as some define universalism; instead, Bell maintains that people have a choice whether to accept God's grace or not (which is very similar to the views held by another famous Christian, C. S. Lewis).   Bell believes Jesus saves, but he saves everyone.  

In his book, Love Wins, Rob Bell goes into much greater detail on both of these issues.  As a former fundamentalist Christian myself, I found it necessary to drop the title of Christian because I could no longer accept the conventional, modern day interpretation of the Bible by modern day fundamentalists, nor can I accept extreme alternative offered by the liberal wings of the Christian church as a whole.  Love demands freedom, it cannot feel threatened.  This is something we all know intuitively, it's our choice whether to accept it as truth or not.  

 Love Wins by Rob Bell - Purchase on Amazon

Love Wins - a new Christian all-inclusive truth discovered by Rob Bell?

Love Wins could potentially change everything! This brand new book by Rob Bell - could just be the most unifying, interfaith, conservative Christian book to come out of this messy age of religion since... maybe... the Bible? Who knows? This book is exactly what the conservative Christian tribe needs to thrust them into this inspiring new world created by Jesus over 2,000 years ago.

A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived.

Rob Bell addresses one of the most controversial issues of faith—the afterlife—arguing, would a loving God send people to eternal torment forever…? With searing insight, Bell puts hell on trial, and his message is decidedly hopeful—eternal life doesn’t start when we die; it starts right now. And ultimately, Love Wins.

God asks for our heart.

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." --Matthew 22:34-40

Jesus came proclaiming God's love for us, asking us anew to give our hearts to God; but the religious authorities of the day, in cahoots with the government, got rid of him, because he was perceived as a threat to their establishment. In 2007, conservative Christians named Rob Bell #10 on their list of "The 50 Most Influential Christians in America" as chosen by The Church Report readers and online visitors. Is the Bell still ringing true? How will the conservative Christian community receive Bell after they read his new book, Love Wins?

Rob Bell is an author, pastor, innovative, dynamic person who presents a deeper Biblical vision for discovering the richer, more majestic and true, and more spiritually satisfying way of understanding heaven, hell, God, Jesus, salvation, and what it means to come to Jesus. The "good news" is way better than we ever imagined.

Rob Bell was interviewed by Lisa Miller of Newsweek March 14, 2011, the day before the book release; and thus began a moment of contemplation for many Christian leaders around the world. God is not willing that any should perish. Will God have His way? Or will the religious authorities of the day have their way? Does Love Win for everyone? Or does this message get ignored in the same way the good news of the Bible is ignored by many?

Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?" I said, "Here I am. Send me." --Isaiah 6:8

What do I see? I see a man whos says 'Here am I, Lord, send me!' I will ring that bell with you Pastor Bell. I believe Bell is proclaiming a truth felt within the heart of millions of Christians who are afraid to speak up about the fact that they can no longer accept the hell and brimstone message they've been taught in the past. Afraid of losing their worship community and possibly a few friendships should they break rank, they remain silent instead. I know I have lost friends over my beliefs, but I keep loving everyone anyway - and to borrow a phrase from Rob Bell "You're Next!" :)

The stubborn theological nincompoops of today, and the people who listen to them, can be as stubborn as the ones who were alive at the time of Jesus. Soon, I fear, the accusations will begin ....'false teaching' ....'heretic' ...'blasphemy' ....'heterodox' or 'unorthodox', etc.... and just like that, they will miss their opportunity to move the ship toward the way of Jesus! They may have developed too much pride over the years to change their evil ways. But in the end? Love Wins.

What would happen if we believed in

Love instead of hell? Seriously.

Order Love Wins, by Rob Bell - release date March 15th, 2011.

Here's Rob Bell in the Love Wins promo video:

 

Love Wins, by Rob Bell, release date March 15, 2011

Reflections on the 4 Agreements

Happy Thanksgiving!  We hope you enjoy the holiday, however you choose to spend it. Food, family, football, relaxing day off... We look forward to seeing you at our next meetup where we will continue our study of The Four Agreements and/or The Four Agreements/Companion Book, by Don Miguel Ruiz. The Four Agreements present a powerful code of conduct for attaining personal freedom and true happiness.   Visit the Interfaith Spirit Quest Meetup site for more details.

You can join in anytime - please read up through Chapter 4 of the Companion Book - or Chapter 3 of The Four Agreements book, depending on which book you might have, highlighting areas of interest as you go along. If you're not a big reader, just try to glance through the book and/or make yourself familiar with the 4 agreements.

REFLECTIONS on the 4 AGREEMENTS:
(From the Toltec Wisdom 4 Agreements Card Deck)

1. Be Impeccable with Your Word
Create a beautiful dream. Your word can create the most beautiful dream, or your word can destroy everything around you. Impeccability of the word only creates beauty, love, and heaven on earth.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally
See other people as they are. When you see other people as they are without taking it personally, you can never be hurt by what they say or do. Even if others lie to you, it is okay. They are lying to you because they are afraid you will discover that they are not perfect.

3. Don't Make Assumptions
Assume nothing. In any kind of relationship, we can make the assumption that others know what we think, and we don't have to say what we want. We assume they are going to do what we want because they know us so well. If they don't do what we want, we feel hurt and think, 'How could you do that? You should know.'

4. Always Do Your Best
Express your own divinity. You don't need the acceptance of others. You don't need knowledge or great philosophical concepts. You have the right to be you, and you express your own divinity by being alive and by loving yourself and others.

 

The Four Agreements with inspirational video

The Four Agreements  

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word  Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love. 

 

2. Don't Take Anything Personally  Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions  Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret. 

Book Discussion:  If you're in the Appleton - Fox Valley, Wisconsin area - please join our local Interfaith Spirit Quest Meetup group - we will be reading and implementing The Four Agreements as a group. 

Enjoy this inspirational video based on The Four Agreements, a book by Don Miguel Ruiz.     

 

 

Eat Pray Love, Women Food and God

The book Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is now a full length movie (in theaters now as of this writing and soon to be out on DVD) and the author has followed her international best selling book with a new book entitled Committed - A skeptic makes peace with marriage.  Eat Pray Love is all about the author's quest for spiritual healing.  She learns to eat in Italy, pray in India, and love in Bali.  The book was OK, the movie was better, but could have been better, the scenery was fantastic. 

On the heels of all the eating, praying and loving, comes this new book Women, Food and God by Geneen Roth; a book about how eating is actually inseparable from your core beliefs about being alive. How we feel about love and God is completely connected to the way we eat.  Through reading the book, you may discover how to overcome problematic eating concerns.  Demystify weight loss and your relationship with God by using the special guide inside Geneen's new book. 

Since three-word titles seem so popular all of a sudden, I think I would like to see someone write a book with the following three-word title:  Men, Women and Love.  Or maybe Love, Nature and God.

Listen and watch as the author reads an excerpt from Women, Food and God:

Click on the photo links below to purchase the above mentioned books: 

Everyone needs a little affirmation now and then

Remember The Secret movie?  Here is a clip that didn't make it to the movie - but is equally inspiring, if not more so.  Esther Hicks in an inspirational scene depicting the law of attraction.   Be encouraged, affirmed and motivated. 

The Jesus Manifesto

Jesus Manifesto  New book release from Frank Viola, a Christian reformer involved with the 'home church' movement, and Leonard Sweet, a preacher, writer, communicator, and bridge builder between the worlds of academe and popular culture.

Will this be a milestone in Christian literature - a spiritual masterpiece?  I'm looking forward to reading the Jesus Manifesto and plan to post a review at a later date.

A new song released in conjunction with the book release (will open in Windows Media):  

"Just Jesus" by John Thompson

Book Synopsis from Amazon: 

"Jesus Manifesto" is a milestone in Christian literature - a spiritual masterpiece. It is both timeless and timely. The book contains a breathtaking unveiling of the beauty, glory, and wonder of Christ that speaks to both the head and the heart (something that few books combine today). The style of writing blends poetry with prose and is brilliantly sprinkled with metaphor. The content is illuminating, compelling, and even prophetic. Epic, true to Scripture, faithful to the testimony of the historic church, filled with seminal insights and written with exceptional prose, this little volume is a clarion call to return to the supremacy of Jesus Christ. For all of these reasons, "Jesus Manifesto" has come along "for such a time as this." -- Searching Together/Baptist Reformation Review

Read Sample Chapters on Google Books:

Chely Wright - on coming out

Chely Wright, singer, songwriter and country western star, appeared on The Oprah Show, May 19, 2010, to talk about coming out as the first gay country singer after keeping it hidden all these years.  Why do people hide who they are?  It's just as wrong to hide who you are for professional gain and acceptance as it is to harshly judge people who are gay, simply for being gay.  Everyone has things about them they would rather not share for various reasons, but if these things are part of the fabric of your being, it's just not possible to have peace of mind until these issues are resolved.   If resolving these issues means taking a career and family risk, then this is what you must do.  Chely did it, so can you.  Chely did it in the conservative heartland of America, the country music arena.  She'll come out OK, you will too.  On Oprah she said "I feel 2 weeks old."  She's been born again after she chose to live her truth!