Am I the only person who finds the entire concept of vicarious redemption to be utterly immoral (not to mention harmful)?

Marcus Borg estimates that 10-20% of Christians have met the actual 'spirit,' ghost if you will, of Jesus of Nazareth.

How do you react to something like that?

How does it affect you?

Have you met Him?

Are you afraid to talk about it in the Church?

The lectionary for preaching is a discipline that I use.

BUT

I have always thought that children were not in the minds of the folk who put the 3 year lectionary together. We start out with Advent ( expectant waiting) and then move on to the Birth of Jesus, Epiphany and the Baptism of Jesus.

From there we hurry along to Lent and the death of Jesus on the cross.

For children, it seems very confusing - Jesus is born and then died - in a short time span.

I am looking at the story of the woman and the perfume, Jesus in Simon the Pharisee's house. Luke 7:36.........

What did Jesus do or say that brought people to him? Why did people like this woman revere him? How did people know about him? Why was Jesus in a Pharisee's house? He was only preaching for 3 years. How did Jesus build up such a following?

Just pondering.

First, go to my favorite web-site. Arts and Letters Daily.

WWW.aldaily.com

Click on 'magazines'

Click on New Yorker

Click on "What did Jesus do?"

A short review of TEN of the latest books on Jesus. I found the article not only interesting , I actually learned something.

THE question: after reading it. did your perception of Jesus change in any way?

AND for pointing to this excellent article did you have a large urge to, in appreciation for my so doing,

send me $1000.00 ?

This is a spin off from Graeme's thread. What did Jesus tell us about living? living today? It might make for an interesting sermon.

Jump in and tell me.

I have been Asked to do many impossible things for God over the last nine years.  Now that He has reduced me to zero, I can't say that I'm 'Asked' to do one more thing.  It's like I haven't been Given an option.

My dad just had a second heart attack in as many months.  All the doctors could say is that his heart is 'tired.'  At 87 years old, the body is just worn out.  He is a minister.  Now his son begins to enter the process to become one.  The doctors asked my mother about 'do not resuscitate' orders.' 

 Just came across this excellent lecture by Dale B. Martin, a professor at Yale University, its part of a large and comprehensive course.  It gives wonderful insight into the scholar's process, as well as biblical insight.

It is the first day of Spring - new life, new hope ,and new beginnings.

What does the ressurection - the raising of Jesus, the coming to life again mean to you?

I was going to add more but I think this covers what I would like to discuss.

december Observer - Janet Silman

" But the question that is perhaps most significant of all is why was Jesus born Jewish? Once again, only God knows.......Jesus lived and died Jewish."

So why aren't we Jewish?