I found this video compelling (and clever).  It also brings up a subject that I think about a lot: the oversimplification of the gospel.  I wonder if the Church, in an effort to reach more people, have presented a “plastic Jesus” to...
Topics: Christian Living, gospel, Jesus, Video

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A pastor’s life is a trip from extreme to extreme, from glowing praise to vitriolic criticism with very little in between.  I thought I didn’t care what people thought of me.  If God is for me, right?Come to find out, I do care what people.
Topics: Christian Living, humility, pastoring, Video

{"title":"Humble Confidence and the Bottomless Pit","post_url":"http:\/\/www.bencotten.net\/2009\/09\/20\/humble-confidence-and-the-bottomless-pit\/","feed_url":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/bencotten\/OGFs","author":"BCotten","date":"2009-09-19 21:21:51","summary":"A pastor’s life is a trip from extreme to extreme, from glowing praise to vitriolic criticism with very little\u00a0in between. \u00a0I thought I didn’t care what people thought of me. \u00a0If God is for me, right?Come to find out, I do care what people."}

Standing in the surf today with my 2 year old son, a small wave came along.  The wave was no higher than my calf, but to him it seemed life threatening.  He reached up and grabbed my hand and the wave splashed on by.I could see that, for the first...
Topics: Christian Living, suffering

{"title":"The Difference Between Trial and Adventure","post_url":"http:\/\/www.bencotten.net\/2009\/07\/02\/the-difference-between-trial-and-adventure\/","feed_url":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/bencotten\/OGFs","author":"BCotten","date":"2009-07-02 14:25:22","summary":"Standing in the surf today with my 2 year old son, a small wave came along.\u00a0 The wave was no higher than my calf, but to him it seemed life threatening.\u00a0 He reached up and grabbed my hand and the wave splashed on by.I could see that, for the first..."}

I’m on vacation.  It’s odd to me that we don’t ever realize how much we needed something until we have it (or lose it).  Having nothing to do but rest and play for a week, I’m realizing that one of the things that rest (sabbath).
Topics: Family Life, rest, sabbath, vacation

{"title":"You Are More Than What You Do","post_url":"http:\/\/www.bencotten.net\/2009\/06\/30\/you-are-more-than-what-you-do\/","feed_url":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/bencotten\/OGFs","author":"BCotten","date":"2009-06-30 10:54:38","summary":"I’m on vacation.\u00a0 It’s odd to me that we don’t ever realize how much we needed something until we have it (or lose it).\u00a0 Having nothing to do but rest and play for a week, I’m realizing that one of the things that rest (sabbath)."}

I had not planned on reading The Shack, but several people have asked me my thoughts on the book recently. A friend in the church here read it and lent me his copy to read. I’ve just finished it, and I have several reactions that I’d like...
Topics: Christian Living, the shack, theology, Video

{"title":"My Review of The Shack","post_url":"http:\/\/www.bencotten.net\/2009\/06\/17\/my-review-of-the-shack\/","feed_url":"http:\/\/feeds.feedburner.com\/bencotten\/OGFs","author":"BCotten","date":"2009-06-17 13:00:23","summary":"I had not planned on reading The Shack, but several people have asked me my thoughts on the book recently. A friend in the church here read it and lent me his copy to read. I’ve just finished it, and I have several reactions that I’d like..."}