Velvet Elvis

Every once in a while, a book will strike a chord with me and I will recommend it to everyone I know. Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell is one of those books. It's a book about Christianity and it gave me so many new thoughts to chew on. Some of you may have already read it, since it was published a few years back. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. I'll share some of my favorite quotes from the book:

You rarely defend the things you love. You enjoy them and tell others about them and invite others to enjoy them with you.

If God is love, is every experience of love an experience of God? Is every experience of God an experience of love?

Christian is a great noun and a poor adjective.

In the same way that something can be labeled "Christian" and not be true, something can be true and not be labeled Christian.

Missions is less about the transportation of God from one place to another and more about the identification of a God who is already there. The issue isn't so much taking Jesus to people who don't have him, but going to a place and pointing out to the people there the creative, life-giving God who is already present in their midst.

God is really heavy - you can't carry Him places.

Our story is God's story. So many of us have been conditioned to think of our faith as solely an issue of us and God. But faith is a communal experience. A shared journey.

I am not defined by what I am not.

I meet so many people who have a superwhatever rattling around in their head. They have this person they are convinced they are supposed t be, and their superwhatever is killing them. You have to kill your superwhatever.

Following Jesus doesn't mean your problems will go away. Following Jesus may bring on problems you never imagined.

What does Jesus do almost as much as He teaches and heals? He eats long meals. As Christians, it is our duty to master the art of the long meal. . . . . . and what does this meal consist of? Hours of talking and sharing and enjoying each other's presence. . . . . . time spent around the table with each other is time spent with God.

One of the central metaphors for God and His people throughout the Bible is that of a groom and His bride. God is the groom; His people are the bride. The church is a she. She's a mystery. She's global. She's universal. In every generation there will be those who see her beauty and give their lives to see her shine. Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against her. She will continue to roll across the ages, serving and giving and connecting people with God and each other. And people will abuse her and manipulate her and try to control her, but they'll pass on. And she will keep going.

And my personal favorite: God has spoken and the rest is commentary, right?

Let me take this opportunity to wish everyone a peaceful Advent season and many good things in the new year. I'll be taking a break from any lengthy posts until after the holidays are over, but I'll continue to spread the comment love to you all. Merry Christmas!